(Headline USA) Less than a week after concerned Florida parents achieved a major victory by sweeping the state’s school board elections, Rep. Charlie Crist—a former Republican governor turned independent turned Democrat—made yet another tone-deaf decision to differentiate himself from his current gubernatorial rival, GOP powerhouse Ron DeSantis.
Since his 2018 election as governor, DeSantis—a former charter member of the House Freedom Caucus—has only added to his appeal among conservatives by fighting issues like coronavirus lockdown mandates and woke school indoctrination head-on.
Like Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who rode into office in 2021 on a pro-parents platform, defeating former Democrat Gov. Terry McAuliffe, DeSantis also has made schools his signature issue in the upcoming race.
Crist, however, made a similar blunder to McAuliffe by announcing that he planned to make Karla Hernandez-Mats, president of the Miami–Dade County teachers union, as his running mate.
The misstep follows two equally obtuse blunders last week when Crist first told Floridians that he did not want the votes of anyone who supported DeSantis.
“Those who support the governor should stay with him and vote for him and I don’t want your vote. If you have that hate in your heart, keep it there,” Crist said the day after securing the Democrat nomination.
“I want the vote of the people of Florida who care about our state: good Democrats, good Independents, good Republicans. Unify with this ticket,” he continued. “Those who are haters: you’re gonna go off in your own world.”
Shortly thereafter, he issued fawning praise of deeply unpopular President Joe Biden, saying he would love to have him on the campaign trail.
Charlie Crist just now: Biden is an “exceptional” president. “Look what he’s done for our country. Look what he’s done for the world.” 🤔
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) August 24, 2022
The pair of bizarre strategic decisions has already fueled speculation that Crist may be intentionally trying to lose.
Crist announced United Teachers of Dade President Hernandez–Mats as his lieutenant governor pick at a brief rally in South Florida, describing her as a compassionate former teacher of special needs children with the “heart” necessary to govern.
“Caring, loving, empathic, compassionate—that’s what we don’t have in the governor’s office right now and that’s what you deserve to have in the governor’s office,” Crist said before introducing Hernandez–Mats to the crowd.
Hernandez–Mats framed the Democratic ticket as a way to “bring decency and respect back to the state of Florida” and preserve abortion access and voting rights.
“It has been dark in here but we’re going to bring the sunshine back,” she said.
Hernandez–Mats advocated delaying students’ return to school in the fall of 2020 and continuing mask mandates in 2021, in defiance of DeSantis’ administration.
She has also previously been critical of a new anti-grooming law which bars classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, as well as material that is not deemed age-appropriate.
Crist defeated state agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried in the Democratic primary in a race that increasingly centered on abortion rights following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade and a new Florida law that bans abortions after 15 weeks.
Fried often questioned Crist’s Democratic bonafides, highlighting his appointment of conservative state Supreme Court justices while he was a GOP governor. The state’s high court is soon expected to decide the constitutionality of the GOP-backed 15-week ban.
Crist on Saturday reiterated a pledge to sign an executive order protecting abortion, upon the first day of his new administration.
DeSantis as governor has become one of the most popular Republicans in America, with his frequent and vocal opposition to Biden and liberal policies on abortion and gender issues winning him large sums from wealthy GOP donors and fueling speculation of a 2024 presidential bid.
In Florida, with the help of the GOP-controlled Legislature, DeSantis has carried out a brash, bold approach to policymaking, taking control over the state’s congressional redistricting process, suspending a corrupt, George Soros-backed prosecutor who pledged not to enforce the 15-week abortion ban and punishing Disney for opposing the anti-grooming law.
The governor this week, in a speech after Crist’s primary win, did not mention Crist by name, instead casting the general election as a battle against Biden and “woke” ideology.
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press
