DAVIE, Fla. — Listening to the chairman of the Florida Republican Party on Saturday, it would be hard to believe that there was a looming primary with four leading candidates for governor on Aug. 18.
During the opening remarks of the party’s annual summit at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Evan Power spoke to the grassroots members of the GOP and steered all focus to the general election battle for governor against Democrats and their likely nominee, former U.S. Rep. David Jolly.
“Make no mistake, he may say whatever he has to to get elected, but he will govern like a crazy liberal, just like Abigail Spanberger,” Power said, referencing the Democratic governor of Virginia.
Jolly and his running mate, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, have staked out an early claim in the governor’s race as the moderate choice for voters. In a state where Republicans have a decisive edge in active registered voters, they must appeal to independent voters and any disaffected Republicans who may consider voting for another party. With no clear Democratic rival, Jolly and Graham have essentially clinched their party’s nomination weeks before the primary.
No such luck for the GOP front-runner, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. Although he has raised boatloads of donations and is polling far ahead of his Republican challengers, the race continues. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner and investor James Fishback, who was disinvited to this year’s summit, persist as vocal opponents.
Power didn’t dwell on the intraparty contest. Power’s volley at the party’s Sunshine State Showdown instead offered a sneak peek at how Republicans will counterprogram Democrats. They aren’t moderates, Power said Saturday, but radical liberals and imposters.
“Gwen Graham, who campaigns as a moderate, says she shares North Florida values,” said Power, who’s running for a North Florida seat in Congress this year. “You don’t share North Florida values if you go to work for Joe Biden’s education administration.”
The way Power tells it, there will be no need for Republicans to tack left when it comes to the general election. No moderation needed.
“Can you look at what we did in the election? Donald Trump won the state by 13 points,” Power said. “Thirteen points sends a strong message that Florida is not in play.”
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