DeSantis to name Nuñez as Florida's first Cuban-American runner

MIAMI – Miami State Rep. Jeanette Nuñez is to be named Republican running mate Ron DeSantis on Thursday, the first time a Cuban-American woman has been selected as a lieutenant governor for Florida, according to sources close to the decision.

Nuñez from Miami, who served for eight years at the Florida House, has not commented on his membership in the program, nor a spokesman for the campaign DeSantis, which plans to campaign Thursday at the heart of the Cuban-American community. Little Havana of Miami.

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At first, Nuñez did not want to run across the state, nor to be appointed lieutenant governor, but decided to revive the incitement of one of her closest political allies, Senator Marco Rubio . The surprise of the Democrat Andrew Gillum during his race for governor August 28, according to an informed source.

"At first she was not ready to do it. But Gillum's victory was enough to see what was at stake for the state, "the source said. "Marco called and pushed him. They have been friends for years and he said that it was extremely important for her to take the ticket.

Rubio also has good working relations with DeSantis, a congressman from Ponte Vedra, who briefly ran for the Rubio headquarters when the senator in 2016 ran for president. When Rubio decided to run for reelection, DeSantis sided with grace. Former Rubio's Chief of Staff is Richard Corcoran, Speaker of the House, who chose Nuñez as Speaker temporary in the Florida house. Another connection between the two Republicans: they share political consultants to the firm Something Else Strategies, and the same pollster, Whit Ayers.

Nuñez's support for Rubio led her to oppose Donald Trump before the 2016 Florida presidential primary.

"Wake Florida voters, Trump is the biggest crook out there. #nosubstance # anti-Israel #supportsKKK #nevertrump, "she writes on March 3, 2016 on Twitter. "VOTE @marcorubio #RUBIO."

She only posted a tweet on Trump when he was sworn in on January 20, 2017: "We live in the largest country in the history of the world. We wish a lot of success to our new #President @realDonaldTrump. God bless him."

The bilingual Nuñez gives DeSantis an additional lift in the important and politically active Cuban-American community of Miami-Dade County. Cuban-Americans played a key role in DeSantis' victory over Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam last week. On Thursday, DeSantis is scheduled to perform with Nuñez at the Manuel Artime Theater to pay tribute to the Brothers of the Fallen Rescue Pilots, who were shot dead by the Cuban regime on a relief mission in 1996.

DeSantis' decision to choose Nuñez has been praised by his compatriot Miamian and current lieutenant governor, Carlos Lopez-Cantera, the first Cuban-American to hold the position.

"@RonDeSantisFL has made a wise choice by choosing @RepJNunez to be the 20th Lieutenant Governor of our great state of Florida," Lopez-Cantera announced on Twitter, noting that the choice had not yet been officially confirmed.

As a former health care lobbyist and legislative advisor, Nuñez also has an in-depth knowledge of the legislative process and the thorny personalities of the state Capitol.

By choosing the mother of three, a 46-year-old married, DeSantis' campaign could help alleviate the onslaught of Democrats who rely on strong support from voters.

Rumor has it that DeSantis' Democratic opponent Gillum was also stirring up two team-mates: his former main opponent and fellow-citizen Gwen Graham, a former congressman, and state senator Lauren Book.

One of Graham's former campaign advisers, Steve Schale, congratulated Nuñez on Twitter saying, "Let me quickly break with regular partisanship to congratulate my friend. I have known @RepJNunez for almost 20 years, when we were both legislators at the Florida House. She is a good person, deserves this honor.

Florida representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican and former Nuñez colleague at Florida House, said Schale's reaction was the rule, not the exception.

"It would be hard to find a former colleague or someone who knows who has a bad say about it," Gaetz said, calling Nuñez "open minded and open to all."

Yet, said Gaetz, Nuñez wants to win and knows how to do it.

"Jeanette has won several times in an area of ​​the state that has taken a bluer, blue hue by the hour," Gaetz said. "She has demonstrated an ability to appeal to a large portion of voters."