A group of Democratic Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist’s former colleagues unanimously endorsed sitting Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying Tuesday that the “stakes are too high” to deny DeSantis a second term.
“The undersigned represent former colleagues and staff of Charlie Crist. Together, we have known Charlie in virtually all phases of his career and public life,” the letter, which was signed by 37 former colleagues, reads. Crist was elected governor of Florida as a Republican in 2006 but left the GOP to become an independent near the end of his term. In 2012, Crist became a Democrat.
NEW: 37 former colleagues and staffers of Charlie Crist, including George LeMieux, Crist’s former chief of staff who he appointed to be U.S. senator, have endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for reelection, saying he has led Florida “with courage and conviction.” pic.twitter.com/z1Zd5Oxk4w
— Daniel Lippman (@dlippman) October 25, 2022
“We are well qualified to endorse in the Florida Governor’s race because we have significant experience in public service to the state of Florida. The choice this November could not be more clear, we unanimously endorse Governor Ron DeSantis for re-election,” the letter reads. (RELATED: Gov. DeSantis: ‘The Only Worn-Out Old Donkey I’m Looking To Put Out To Pasture Is Charlie Crist’)
The signatories said that DeSantis has “delivered” for Florida and that they “stand with Governor DeSantis because the stakes are too high.”
The letter’s most prominent signatory is former Republican Florida Sen. George LeMieux, who also served as Crist’s chief of staff when Crist was governor.
DeSantis currently leads Crist in the polls, 51% to 44%, according to NBC News, which cited a survey from Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy. Fifty-six percent of those polled approved of DeSantis’ job performance. DeSantis is also polling ahead among Hispanic voters, a plurality of whom support his decision to send migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, according to a Telemundo/LX News poll cited by NBC News.