ABOVE: Rep. Alex Andrade (L) and Cris Dosev are running against each other in Florida’s District 2 Republican primary race. (Photos from each of their Facebook pages)
Cris Dosev, a Marine veteran running against state Rep. Alex Andrade in Florida’s District 2 Republican primary, released a TV ad July 21 filled with transphobic attacks and labelled Andrade as “Angry Alex.”
The 30-second TV spot states Andrade “constantly attacks veterans, bullies mothers and grandmothers and, worst of all, sponsored a gay rights bill that paves the way for men to play on girls’ sports teams and men to go in girls’ bathrooms.”
The “gay rights bill” Dosev’s ad is referencing is the Florida Competitive Workforce Act (FCWA) which would grant nondiscrimination protections in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity statewide.
“This outrageous transphobia is a desperate move, even for Dosev,” said Jon Harris Maurer, Equality Florida Public Policy Director, in a statement. “Dosev is trying to score cheap political points off the backs of minorities because he’s being dogged by ethics complaints and allegations of violating federal trademark law for erroneously implying endorsement from groups that don’t support him.”
Complaints were filed earlier this month against Dosev with the Division of Elections and the state Ethics Commission. According to Florida Politics, a Destin resident filed a complaint stating Dosev failed to report interests in private businesses worth $184,465. He also filed a complaint for improper signage.
The attack ad against Andrade’s support of the FCWA failed to mention, in the 2019 Legislative session, the bill had record bipartisan support. A 2019 survey of conservatives in the state also found that more than half of likely Republican voters favor passing the FCWA.
“Dosev is trying to scare voters into supporting him with tactics that are refuted by decades of data. He’s not just out of touch with Floridians; he’s far out of touch with his own voter base,” Maurer said.
Dosev first ran for political office in 2016 when he looked to become a U.S. House representative for Florida’s 1st Congressional District. Dosev lost that Republican primary to Congressman Matt Gaetz.
The Florida primary race for the state House seat in District 2 between Andrade and Dosev will be Aug. 18. The winner of that race will face off with Democrat Dianne Krumel in the general election Nov. 3.
