CONTACT: Ed Gilhuly, Left Communication
MIRAMAR, FL — SEIU Florida, which represents more than 55,000 active and retired health care professionals, public employees, airport workers, adjunct faculty and property service staff in the state, has announced a slate of endorsed candidates for the November elections who will best serve the freedoms and needs of Florida’s working families.
The candidates earned the endorsements based on their commitment to fight for everyday Floridians and SEIU’s “Vote For Freedom” electoral platform which focuses on:
-- access to quality, affordable healthcare
-- good wages
-- affordable housing
-- worker and union rights.
The endorsements and platform are backed by a $5 million union investment in get-out-the-vote, communications and other outreach efforts. Additionally, hundreds of SEIU Florida members have pledged thousands of hours to canvass neighborhoods each weekend, work phone banks and participate in dozens of other actions between now and election day (November 6).
These efforts build upon the past three years in which SEIU has invested $2.7 million annually to build a base of leaders and activists in communities across the state to lift up working-class concerns. Specific issues include a living wage for nursing home employees who care for our seniors but can’t afford health care for themselves, including a minimum wage of $15 per hour; protection of Medicare; support for the right of adjunct faculty, airport workers and others to join a union; and the expansion of Medicaid which would provide critical health insurance to 700,000 working-class Floridians who otherwise have no health coverage at all.
“Millions of hardworking Florida families still can’t afford health care and struggle to put food on the table, pay the rent or have any voice at work. That’s not freedom,” said Monica Russo, president of SEIU Florida. “Our endorsed candidates have pledged and proven their commitment to serving the people first, from children to seniors and all ages in between.”
The endorsements range from races for Florida governor and cabinet, U.S. Senate and Congress, as well as numerous local and county leadership positions.
SEIU Florida endorsements include:
U.S. Senate
Bill Nelson
Florida Governor & Cabinet
Andrew Gillum Governor
Chris King Lieutenant Governor
Sean Shaw Attorney General
Jeremy Ring Chief Financial Officer
Nikki Fried Commissioner of Agriculture & Consumer Services
U.S. House of Representatives
Nancy Soderberg U.S. Representative, District 6
Stephanie Murphy U.S. Representative, District 7
Sanjay Patel U.S. Representative, District 8
Darren Soto U.S. Representative, District 9
Charlie Crist U.S. Representative, District 13
Lauren Baer U.S. Representative, District 18
Alcee Hastings U.S. Representative, District 20
Lois Frankel U.S. Representative, District 21
Ted Deutch U.S. Representative, District 22
Debbie Wasserman Schultz U.S. Representative, District 23
Mary Barzee Flores U.S. Representative, District 25
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell U.S. Representative, District 26
Donna Shalala U.S. Representative, District 27
Florida Senate
Kayser Enneking State Senator, District 8
Amanda Murphy State Senator, District 16
Janet Cruz State Senator, District 18
Kathy Lewis State Senator, District 20
Bob Doyel State Senator, District 22
Lindsay Cross State Senator, District 24
Robert Levy State Senator, District 25
David Perez State Senator, District 36
Annette Taddeo State Senator, District 40
Florida House of Representatives
Tracye Polson State Representative, District 15
Barbara Cady State Representative, District 42
Geraldine Thompson State Representative, District 44
Anna Eskamani State Representative, District 47
Amy Mercado State Representative, District 48
Carlos Guillermo Smith State Representative, District 49
Dianne Hart State Representative, District 61
Fentrice Driskell State Representative, District 63
Jennifer Webb State Representative, District 69
Ellen Baker State Representative, District 85
Matt Willhite State Representative, District 86
David Silvers State Representative, District 87
James Bonfiglio State Representative, District 89
Emma Collum State Representative, District 93
Michael Gottlieb State Representative, District 98
Cindy Polo State Representative, District 103
Javier Estevez State Representative, District 105
Dottie Joseph State Representative, District 108
Nick Duran State Representative, District 112
Michael Grieco State Representative, District 113
Javier Fernandez State Representative, District 114
Jeffrey Soloman State Representative, District 115
Robert Asencio State Representative, District 118
County, Municipal & Judicial
Renee Gordon 11th Judicial Circuit Judge, Group 14
Lamar Fisher Broward County Commissioner, District 4
Tanner Channing Demmery Broward County Court Judge, Group 9
Greg Weiss Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 2
Robert Weinroth Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 4
Jim Gibbs Palm Beach Northern Improvement District
Gregory Block Palm Beach Northern Improvement District
Joseph Anderson Port of Palm Beach, Group 5
Allegra Fung Palm Beach County Court Judge, Group 4
Maxine Cheesman Palm Beach Circuit Court Judge, Group 18
Nirlaine Smartt Circuit Court Judge, 19th Circuit
Patricia Rumph Orange County Commissioner, District 2
Mayra Uribe Orange County Commissioner, District 3
Maribel Gomez Cordero Orange County Commissioner, District 4
Johanna Lopez Orange County School Board District 2
Mariella Smith Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 5
Kimberly Overman Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 7
G. Greg Green Hillsborough County Court Judge, Group 2
E. Michael Isaak Hillsborough County Court Judge, Group 8
Robin Fuson 13th Judicial Circuit Judge, Group 25
Amy Kedron Pinellas County Commissioner, District 6
Peggy O'Shea Pinellas School Board, District 3
Matt Stewart Pinellas School Board, District 6
Kent Compton Pinellas County Court Judge, Group 7
Brandi Geoit Pasco County Commissioner, District 4
Dustin Anderson 6th Judicial Circuit Judge, Group 4
Doneene Loar 6th Judicial Circuit Judge, Group 36
Evan Frayman 6th Judicial Circuit Judge, Group 45
For more information on SEIU Florida, visit www.seiufl.org.
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SEIU Florida represents over 55,000 active and retired healthcare professionals, public employees and property service workers in the state of Florida. SEIU members provide vital public services in Florida’s hospitals, nursing homes, public schools, community colleges, municipal and county governments, malls, and universities. With over 2.1 million members, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in North America.