ABOVE: Caucus President Stephen Gaskill speaks at the organization’s winter conference. Photo via Facebook.
Delray Beach, Fla. | The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus released its endorsements in the 2022 general election Oct. 5, kicking off fundraising efforts to mobilize voters statewide.
The caucus represents the interests of LGBTQ Floridians to the Florida Democratic Party, with more than 20 chapters from Pensacola to Miami. Endorsed candidates include challengers and incumbents in races for the U.S. Congress, State Legislature, the governor’s mansion and more.
“The only way to stop the dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ agenda is to defeat the Republican politicians who shamefully attack our community for political gain,” Caucus President Stephen Gaskill said in a statement.
In the race for U.S. Senate, the caucus endorsed Orlando’s U.S. Rep. Val Demings, a longtime LGBTQ ally who is challenging U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. He recently announced his opposition to the Respect for Marriage Act.
“Marco Rubio has proven that he has no interest in representing and fighting for all Floridians,” Demings responded at the time. “Florida deserves a United States Senator with a proven record of working to protect all people, not just their own political gain.”
Incumbent U.S. House Reps. Al Lawson of District 2, Darren Soto of District 9, Kathy Castor of District 14, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of District 20, Lois Frankel of District 22, Frederica Wilson of District 24 and Debbie Wasserman Schultz also secured endorsements, along with 14 challengers.
They include Central Florida’s Karen Green, Joanne Terry and Maxwell Alejandro Frost, who could become the first member of Generation Z to be elected to Congress. Tampa Bay’s Eric Lynn, Alan Cohn and Jan Schneider were also endorsed. Lynn is vying to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, who resigned after winning the Democratic nomination for governor.
The caucus endorsed Crist in the race against Gov. Ron DeSantis Sept. 14, joining other high profile LGBTQ organizations.
“We need a Governor who will undo the damage caused by DeSantis and who will put our state back on the path to full equality,” Gaskill said. “Charlie Crist is the leader we can trust to protect and expand LGBTQ+ rights, and we are proud to endorse him.”
Adam Hattersley and Aramis Ayala were respectively endorsed for the cabinet, respectively for Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and Attorney General. In the Florida Legislature, the caucus weighed in on races from State Senate District 3 to 38 and State House District 2 to 120.
Those races include openly LGBTQ State Sen. Shevrin Jones and Tampa Bay hopeful Eunic Ortiz, who could become the first openly gay woman elected to the chamber. In the House, endorsees include openly LGBTQ State Reps. Michele Rayner and Carlos Guillermo Smith of Tampa Bay and Central Florida, as well as longtime LGBTQ allies like Orlando’s Anna Eskamani.
Municipal endorsements in Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Lee, Leon, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Sarasota and Volusia counties were also made, as were constitutional amendment recommendations.
“The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus and its county chapters are working to turnout LGBTQ+ voters in the critical 2022 election and elect pro-equality Democrats who will protect and expand the rights of all LGBTQ+ Floridians,” Gaskill noted.
View the full list of the caucus’ endorsements below.
ENDORSED CANDIDATES
U.S. SENATE
Val Demings
U.S. HOUSE INCUMBENTS
- Rep. Al Lawson – District 2
- Rep. Darren Soto – District 9
- Rep. Kathy Castor – District 14
- Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick – District 20
- Rep. Lois Frankel – District 22
- Rep. Frederica Wilson – District 24
- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz – District 25
U.S. HOUSE CHALLENGERS
- Danielle Nicole Hawk – U.S. House, District 3
- Karen Green – U.S. House, District 7
- Joanne Terry – U.S. House, District 8
- Maxwell Alejandro Frost – U.S. House, District 10
- Kimberly Walker – U.S. House, District 12
- Eric Lynn – U.S. House, District 13
- Alan Cohn – U.S. House, District 15
- Jan Schneider – U.S. House, District 16
- Andrea Doria Kale – Congress, District 17
- Dr. Cindy Banyai – U.S. House, District 19
- Jared Moskowitz – U.S. House, District 23
- Christine Alexandria Olivo – U.S. House, District 26
- Annette Taddeo – U.S. House, District 27
- Robert Asencio – U.S. House, District 28
GUBERNATORIAL
- Charlie Crist – Governor
CABINET
- Adam Hattersley – CFO
- Aramis Ayala – Attorney General
STATE SENATE
- Loranne Ausley, State Senate – District 3
- Tracie Davis, State Senate – District 5
- Rodney Long, State Senate – District 9
- Veysel Dokur, State Senate – District 12
- Janet Cruz, State Senate – District 14
- Darryl Rouson, State Senate – District 16
- Linda Stewart, State Senate – District 17
- Eunic Ortiz, State Senate – District 18
- Vic Torres, State Senate – District 25
- Shevrin Jones, State Senate – District 34
- Lauren Book, State Senate – District 35
- Raquel Pacheco, State Senate – District 36
- Janelle Perez, State Senate – District 38
STATE HOUSE
- Carollyn Taylor, State House – District 2
- Cornelius Jones, State House – District 11
- Angie Nixon, State House – District 13
- Michael Anderson, State House – District 17
- Yvonne Hayes Hinson, State House – District 21
- Brandon Peters, State House – District 22
- John Navarra, State House – District 28
- Rick Karl, State House – District 29
- Rishi Bagga, State House – District 35
- Deborah Poulalion, State House – District 36
- Carlos Guillermo Smith, State House – District 37
- Sarah Henry, State House – District 38
- Tiffany Hughes, State House – District 39
- LaVon Bracy Davis, State House – District 40
- Anna Eskamani, State House – District 42
- Johanna Lopez, State House – District 43
- Allie Braswell, State House – District 45
- Kristen Arrington, State House – District 46
- Bernard “Bernie” Fensterwald, State House – District 58
- Lindsay Cross, State House – District 60
- Janet Varnell Warwick, State House – District 61
- Michele Rayner, State House – District 62
- David Tillery, State House – District 66
- Fentrice Driskell, State House – District 67
- Lorissa Wright, State House – District 68
- Andrew Learned, State House – District 69
- Derek Reich, State House – District 73
- Forest Blanton, State House – District 84
- Curtis John Tucker, State House – District 85
- Kelly Skidmore, State House – District 92
- Katherine Waldron, State House – District 93
- Patricia Hawkins-Williams, State House – District 99
- Linda Thompson Gonzalez, State House – District 100
- Hillary Cassel, State House – District 101
- Marie Woodson, State House – District 105
- Jordan Leonard, State House – District 106
- Alessandro “A.J.” D’Amico, State House – District 113
- Adam Benna, State House – District 114
- Christie Cantin Davis, State House – District 115
- Gabriel Gonzalez, State House – District 119
- Adam Gentle, State House – District 120
MUNICIPAL
Alachua
- Harvey Ward, Jr, Gainesville Mayor
- Mary Alford, Alachua County Commission, District 1
- Mary Helen Wheeler, Alachua County Commission, District 2
- Ken Cornell, Alachua County Commission, District 4
- Tina Certain, Alachua County School Board, District 1
- James Ingle, Gainesville City Commission, District 2
- Casey Willits, Gainesville City Commission, District 3
- Bryan Eastman, Gainesville City Commission, District 4
Brevard
- William “Bill” Johnson – West Melbourne City Council
- Erin Dunne – School Board, District 2
- James Alex Goins – Cocoa City Council, District 1
Broward
- Ruth Carter Lynch, Broward County School Board, District 5
- Allen Zeman, Broward County School Board, District 8
- Rod Velez, Broward County School Board, District 1
- Ken Keechl, Fort Lauderdale Commission, District 1
- Yvette DuBose, Fort Lauderdale Commission, District 3
- Scott Newton, Wilton Manors Mayor
- Paul Rolli, Wilton Manors Commission, At-Large
Duval
- Lakesha Burton for Sheriff
Escambia
- Ann Hill – Pensacola City Council, District 6
- Myra Van Hoose – County Commission, District 4
Hillsborough
- Harry Cohen, Hillsborough County Commission, District 1
- Angela Birdsong, Hillsborough County Commission, District 2
- Mariella Smith, Hillsborough County Commission, District 5
- Kimberly Overman, Hillsborough County Commission, District 7
Lee
- Kathy Fanny, Lee County School Board, District 1
- Chantel Rhodes, City of Fort Myers Council, District 3
- Steven Blumrosen, City of Bonita Springs Council, District 3
Leon
- Cristian Caban – County Commission, District 2
- Alex Stemle – School Board, District 4
Orange
- Maria Salamanca, Orange County School Board, District 2
Osceola
- Viviana Janer, Osceola County Commission, District 2
- Heather Kahoun, Osceola School Board, District 4
- Angela Eady, Kissimmee City Commission, District 2
Polk
- Markeishia Smith – County Commission, District 4
Sarasota
- Fredd Atkins, County Commission, District 2
- Daniel Kuether – Sarasota County Commission, District 4
Volusia
- Justin Kennedy – School Board, District 3
- Al Bouie – School Board, District 1
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
- Amendment 1 – No
- Amendment 2 – No
- Amendment 3 – No
Learn more about the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus at LGBTQDems.org.
