Former Charlie Crist Colleagues and Staff Endorse DeSantis: ‘He Has Led Our State With Courage and Conviction’

Published Oct. 25, 2022, 10:03 a.m. ET | Updated Oct. 25, 2022

Gov. Ron DeSantis tours St. Augustine, assessing damage from Hurricane Ian, Oct. 1, 2022.
Gov. Ron DeSantis tours St. Augustine, assessing damage from Hurricane Ian, Oct. 1, 2022.

FORT MYERS (FLV) – According to a source familiar with the campaign, Democrat gubernatorial candidate’s former colleagues and staff “unanimously endorse Governor Ron DeSantis for re-election.”

Some of the former staff include those who served under Crist in various of his previous elected positions, including being the Governor of Florida.

“Together, we have known Charlie in virtually all phases of his career and public life,” the letter says. “We are well-qualified to endorse in the Florida Governors’ race because we have significant experience in public service to the state of Florida.”

“Governor DeSantis has delivered for Florida. He has led our state with courage and conviction. He has demonstrated his ability to lead us through difficult times,” they went on. “We stand with Governor DeSantis because the stakes are too high. We urge Florida to re-elect Ron DeSantis as our Governor.”

George LeMieux, former U.S. Senator of Florida, was appointed to the Senate by Crist. He also served as the Chief of Staff to Crist when he was governor.

Other names include Jeff Kottkamp, the Former Lieutenant Governor, Charles Bronson, the Former Commissioner of Agriculture, and Kenn Pruitt, the Former Florida State Senate President.

Read the full letter below:

Crist and DeSantis debated Monday night where the two exchanged attacks and jabs.

On running in 2024, DeSantis brushed off Crist’s insistence on talking about 2024 and said the Democrat candidate is the only one he’s looking to defeat.

“If you’re re-elected, you will serve a full four year term as governor yes or no?” Crist asked.

The moderator pointed out that the campaigns agreed ahead of time not to ask each other questions.

“I know that Charlie’s interested in talking about 2024 and Joe Biden, but I just want to make things very, very clear,” DeSantis said in response. “The only worn out old donkey I’m looking to put out to pasture is Charlie Crist.”

DeSantis is leading Crist in multiple recent polls with only two weeks out from the election.

In a new poll from Florida Atlantic University, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is leading Democrat Charlie Crist by 11 points.

According to the university’s poll, DeSantis leads the Democrat 50.9%-39.7%. 4% said they’d vote for someone else while 5.3% said they are undecided.

Another recent poll released by the Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy shows Hispanic registered voters plan to support Gov. Ron DeSantis over Democrat gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist – 51% to 44% statewide.

DeSantis and Crist will battle for the Governor’s seat on Nov. 8.

Click here to read the full recap of the debate.

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