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 workers in the state, has announced a slate of endorsed candidates for the 2020 August and November elections who will best serve the needs of Florida’s poor and working families.
The candidates earned the endorsements based on their commitment to fight for everyday Floridians and SEIU’s “Unions For All” electoral platform which focuses on:
-- worker and union rights
-- racial justice
-- access to quality, affordable healthcare
-- supporting a minimum wage of at least $15 an hour
-- affordable housing
The endorsements and platform are backed by a multi-million investment in get-out-the-vote, communications and other outreach efforts. Additionally, hundreds of SEIU Florida members have pledged thousands of hours to work phone banks, text banks, and participate in dozens of other actions for the primary and general elections.
Specific issues include fixing the structural racial justice issues that are in the way of true economic freedom and justice; a living wage for nursing home employees who care for our seniors but can’t afford health care for themselves; a minimum wage of $15 per hour; protection of Medicare; support for adjunct faculty and K-20 education funding; a resident physician bill of rights; the ability to join a union for airport workers and others who are excluded from statutory protections; 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.
“If the COVID-19 crisis has taught us anything, it's how important it is to have leaders who listen to the voice of essential workers and make our community’s safety and prosperity central to their platforms,” said Martha Baker, RN, president of SEIU Florida. “Our endorsed candidates will stand up for all workers, for quality and affordable healthcare, racial justice and a living wage. We are confident in their ability to lead our state in this unprecedented time.”
The endorsements range from races for Congress, State Senate, and State House as well as numerous local and county leadership positions.
SEIU Florida endorsements include:
U.S. Congress
Florida's 9th Congressional District Darren Soto
Florida's 10th Congressional District Val Demings
Florida's 13th Congressional District Charlie Crist
Florida's 14th Congressional District Kathy Castor
Florida's 16th Congressional District Margaret Good
Florida's 20th Congressional District Alcee Hastings
Florida's 21st Congressional District Lois Frankel
Florida's 22nd Congressional District Ted Deutch
Florida's 23rd Congressional District Debbie Wasserman-Schultz
Florida's 24th Congressional District Frederica Wilson
Florida's 26th Congressional District Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
Florida's 27th Congressional District Donna Shalala
Florida State Senate
Senate District 3 Lorrane Ausley
Senate District 9 Patricia Sigman
Senate District 11 Randolph Bracy
Senate District 13 Linda Stewart
Senate District 15 Victor Torres
Senate District 29 Tina Polsky
Senate District 31 Lori Berman
Senate District 33 Perry Thurston
Senate District 35 Shevrin Jones
Senate District 37 Jose Javier Rodriguez
Senate District 39 Javier Fernadez
Florida State House
House District 9 Allison Tant
House District 13 Tracie Davis
House District 14 Angie Nixon
House District 21 Kayser Enneking
House District 26 Patrick Henry
House District 30 Joy Goff-Marcil
House District 43 Alex Barrio
House District 44 Geraldine Thompson
House District 47 Anna Eskamani
House District 48 Samuel Vilchez Santiago
House District 49 Carlos Guillermo Smith
House District 59 Andrew Learned
House District 62 Susan Valdes
House District 68 Ben Diamond
House District 69 Jennifer Webb
House District 70 Michele Rayner
House District 84 Delores Hogan Johnson
House District 86 Matt Willhite
House District 87 David Silvers
House District 88 Omari Hardy
House District 89 James Bonfiglio
House District 91 Emily Slosberg
House District 92 Patricia Hawkins-Williams
House District 94 Bobby DuBose
House District 95 Jasmen Rogers-Shaw
House District 96 Christine Hunschofsky
House District 100 Joe Geller
House District 101 Marie Woodson
House District 102 Felicia Robinson
House District 103 Cindy Polo
House District 108 Dotie Joseph
House District 112 Nick Duran
House District 114 Jean-Pierre Bado
House District 117 Kevin Chambliss
House District 120 Clint Barras
County and Municipal Races
Broward County Commission, District 9 Dale Holness
Broward County Supervisor of Elections Mitch Ceasar
Miami-Dade County Commission, District 1 Oliver Gilbert
Miami-Dade County Commission, District 13 Rene Garcia
Miami-Dade County Commission, District 5 Eileen Higgins
Miami-Dade County Commission, District 9 Kionne McGhee
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava
Orange County Commission, District 3 Mayra Mercedes Uribe
Orange County Commission, District 5 Emily Bonilla
Osceola County Commission, District 3 Brandon Arrington
Palm Beach County Commission, District 3 David Kerner
Palm Beach County Commission, District 5 Maria Sachs
Palm Beach County Commission, District 7 Mack Bernard
Palm Beach County School Board, District 5 Frank Barbieri
Pinellas County Commission, District 1 Janet Long
Pinellas County Commission, District 3 Charlie Justice
Pinellas County Commission, District 7 Rene Flowers
Pinellas County School Board, District 4 Eileen Long
Seminole County Commission, District 5 Pernell Bush
State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit Andrew Warren
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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.