Charlie Crist and Wilton Simpson Win Primary Races
FLORIDA (FLV) – Charlie Crist beat Nikki Fried in the Democrat primary for Florida’s gubernatorial race Tuesday.
Crist will now face Gov. Ron DeSantis in the November election. Crist currently serves as a Democrat for Florida’s 13th Congressional District and previously served as Florida’s governor as a Republican from 2007 to 2011.
“And together we are going to make voices heard for you again in Washington and Tallahassee,” Crist said. “A woman’s right to choose is on the ballot. Democracy on the ballot. Your rights as minorities are on this ballot.”
Current Agriculture Commissioner, Nikki Fried, put up a strong fight against Crist who has served in a variety of offices.
“I want to thank Nikki Fried for fighting the good fight for the last four years in Tallahassee,” Crist said in his speech Tuesday. “We share the same goal- to save our state and defeat Ron DeSantis.”
Fried, while disappointed in the loss, called Tuesday night the start of a new chapter. She said it is a time for Democrats to come together against Governor DeSantis.
“We are going to make Ron DeSantis a one term governor and a zero term President of the United States,” Fried said Tuesday night. “We have to be united like we have never been united before.”
Fried endorsed Crist for governor.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner
Republican Wilton Simpson will face Democrat Naomi Blemur in the November race for agriculture commissioner, according to the New York Times results.
Wilton Simpson blew his opponent, James Shaw, out of the water in the Republican primary for the Florida Agriculture Commissioner seat Tuesday.
“For the next 77 days, we will build on that momentum to draw a clear contrast between the common sense conservatism that has made the free state of Florida a model for the nation, and our opponent’s allegiance to the failed socialist policies of Washington Democrats that are undermining access to the American Dream for all Floridians,” Simpson said.
Simpson currently serves as Senate President. He played a large role in passing monumental conservative legislation through the Florida Legislature including the Parental Rights in Education Act, the Stop WOKE Act, and the 15-week abortion ban.
Naomi Blemur built a career in management and worked for several fortune 500 companies. Blemur says she established a non-profit that focuses on women’s issues and at-risk girls aging out of the foster care system.
Blemur has served on several city boards, commissions, and advisory committees in the North Miami community.
U.S. Senate
Democrat U.S. Rep. Val Demings won the primary race against three other Democrat opponents Tuesday. Demings will now try to unseat current Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio in the November election.
“It’s time to replace no-show Marco with a senator that will never tire of fighting for the people of Florida. In November, the choice is clear and with your help we can win this race and flip Florida blue!” Demings said.
Demings is a former Orlando Police Chief and was first elected to congress in 2016 representing Florida’s 10th Congressional District.
Florida Attorney General
Aramis Ayala is the Democrat nominee for the attorney general’s race and will face current Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody, according to CNN results.
Ayala says she is Florida’s first Black State Attorney and a civil rights advocate. She worked as an Assistant Professor in the Legal Studies Department at the University of Central Florida.
Ayala believes Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law and the DeSantis-backed congressional map is unconstitutional.
