2022 Governor Race!
Since 1968, the Lt. Governor of Florida is elected as the running mate of the gubernatorial candidate. So, when you look at the ballot and you’ll see a gray box “Governor and Lieutenant Governor” and “Vote for One”. Be sure to only vote for one, as the winner will choose their running mate for November. So far, only one of the candidates on the Democratic Party ballot has announced a running mate.
The primary ballots are either Democratic Party or Republican Party. Any independents, or NPA (no party affiliation) candidates will appear on the November ballot. Right now there are 5 NPAs and one Libertarian. To find out more about them click here: https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_gubernatorial_and_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election,_2022
All of the candidates are running against the incumbent, Ron DeSantis.
Charlie Crist
Crist has been in politics for a long time. In 1992, running as a Republican, he was elected Florida state senator where he served for 8 years. He went on to serve as Commissioner of Education for Florida and Attorney General. In 2006 he was elected as Governor and served one term.
“Following one term as governor, Crist ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate as an Independent, and in 2014 he ran unsuccessfully for governor as a Democrat. In 2016, Crist won election to the US House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 13th Congressional District covering the St. Petersburg–Clearwater area.”
He is on the Democratic Primary ballot this year and is polling as the primary front runner and polls very slightly ahead of DeSantis.
On the issue of reproductive freedom, Crist has in the past been pro-life. Today he says “(he) will sign an Executive Order defending the right to access a safe abortion as guaranteed by the Florida Constitution and the United States Constitution.” https://charliecrist.com/issues/defending-reproductive-freedom/
He does favor expanding Medicaid, legalizing marijuana for adults, and addressing the affordable housing crisis in Florida. He has a plan to put solar on 1 million Florida roofs. His stance on public education seems generalized and vague, but he does say all the right things on his “Issues” page. https://charliecrist.com/issues/freedom-to-learn/
Crist is outraising Fried by about $4 to her every $1 for a total of about $4.5 million.
Cadence Daniel
Daniel has never held office. On her website https://cadancedaniel.com/ she says she wants “to proactively legislate on behalf of everyone despite race, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic class.” https://cadancedaniel.com/ She has recently returned from Pakistan where she and her husband opened schools for children. She has progressive ideas about all the important topics, but little funding and not much presence in the media. She has announced a running mate. Dylisa McClinton is a charter school teacher, author of Prophetic Ponderings, and
Owner of Elite Writing Solutions that “is a top custom essay writing company that helps students over the globe with their written assignments.” and “EliteWritings.com provides online custom writing services such as elite essay writing, research paper, term paper, dissertation, resume, CV writing help” The website offers to write essays for high school or college students.
Nicole “Nikki” Fried
Fried is currently Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. She is a lawyer who, “As an attorney, she was head of the Felony Division at the Alachua County Public Defender’s Office and worked in private practice in South Florida, defending homeowners against foreclosure during the 2007-2008 housing crisis.
Prior to being elected, Fried worked at law firms as a government consultant, advocating on behalf of clients before the Florida Legislature. In 2017, she formed her own firm to advocate in Tallahassee for at-risk children, the Broward County School Board, and for the expansion of patient access to medical marijuana.”
As commissioner Fried studied energy disparity in Florida, “To help those who need it the most, we need to understand the systemic inequalities, the barriers, and disparities and all the factors that keep vulnerable communities trapped in a cycle of energy efficiency and higher energy costs.” https://nikkifried.com/issues/ She has plans to eliminate the disparities and ensure clean water and safe wastewater treatment.
Fried has been vocal about decriminalizing marijuana and reforming our justice system.
She is aggressive and loud about Florida’s issues, which seems really appropriate in today’s political climate. The time to sit back and hope the issues speak for themselves is over.
In her role as Ag Commissioner, she has, “made a far more valiant effort on the environment, energy, climate change, and water than any of her predecessors.” https://www.news-press.com/story/opinion/2022/01/03/nikki-fried-florida-leader-walking-walk-environment-janelle-christensen/9059703002/
Polling shows Fried gaining ground on Crist. She has hammered DeSantis, taking the lead to inform Floridians when the governor fails to or gives the citizens false information.
Robert Willis
Willis is a teacher at a charter school. It was difficult to find information about Willis’s ideas. He has some videos on Facebook which show him to be a passionate man who is aware of issues, but he doesn’t concisely offer plans for solutions.
