U.S. Representative for Florida’s 5th Congressional District, Al Lawson Jr., announced his endorsement of 2022 Gubernatorial candidate and current U.S. Representative, Charlie Crist, on Thursday.
Lawson, a Democrat, was re-elected to his third term in 2020 and has represented the 5th Congressional District in North Florida since 2017. Before Congress, Lawson represented North Florida for 28 years in the state legislature.
In his endorsement provided by Crist’s campaign and reported by Florida Politics, Lawson stated, “The people of North Florida deserve a Governor who will listen to them, empower them, and fight for them — I have no doubt that Governor is Charlie Crist.” He further states, “Charlie is a dedicated public servant with a proven track record, tested by crisis. Through his years in service, he’s demonstrated that he cares about all Floridians and will fight tooth and nail for his people. He has the experience and ability to lead us towards a better tomorrow as Florida’s next Governor.”
“As Governor, Charlie will listen to us. He will seek our advice and visit our communities, not ignore us. He’ll do as he does now, follow the Golden Rule and treat everyone with respect and dignity. I’ve known Charlie for years. I’ve watched him stand up to the powerful and do what’s right in Washington and in Florida. I know what’s in his heart, and I trust him to look out for all Floridians, not just some. He has my full support and endorsement for Governor,” Lawson added.
Florida Politics also reported Crist’s response to Lawson’s endorsement, which reads, “I’m honored and thankful to receive the endorsement of my friend and colleague Congressman Lawson. There’s a long road ahead of us, but with the support and encouragement of Floridians from the Panhandle to the Keys, we are well on our way to taking back the Governor’s Mansion and putting the people back in power. This campaign is for all Floridians, not just for some. Let’s build a Florida for All, together.”
After the report came out, Crist took to Twitter to reiterate his appreciation of Lawson’s endorsement by saying “Thankful for the support of my friend and colleague Al Lawson Jr. Let’s bring this home for Florida!” Adding support from politicians like Lawson in North Florida shows Crist’s success in reaching Democrats across the state to further his popularity among Florida democratic voters.
In a poll provided by The Listener Group on June 14, Crist leads his opponent, Nikki Fried, by 10.4 percent.
– – –
Casey Owens is a contributing writer for The Florida Capital Star. Follow him on Twitter at @cowensreports. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Florida Capital” by DXR CC3.0.
