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Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló has approved the re-election of Senator Bill Nelson (D.Fla.) And the Florida governor candidate, Andrew Gillum, giving a boost to the two Port Democrats.
Announcements were held in Orlando and Kissimmee, respectively, considered to be the heartland of Puerto Rican communities in the state.
"I am proud to say that I approve of Bill Nelson as a Florida senator and that I help to represent the people of Puerto Rico," Rosselló said at Nelson's campaign office in Orlando.
Rosselló referred to Nelson's work to help Puerto Rico's Medicaid program avoid bankruptcy, his efforts to secure additional funding for the island's recovery from Hurricane Maria under the Community Grants and Disaster Recovery Program. other food aid programs.
Rosselló's support could influence the tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans who have emigrated to Florida in the past year since Hurricane Maria devastated the island.
Nearly two hours after approving Senator Nelson in Orlando, Rosselló went to Kissimmee to support Andrew Gillum, Mayor of Tallahassee, for his run for governorship against US Republican Republican Ron SeDantis. Gillum would be the first African-American governor of the state.
"Really honored to have the approval of Ricardo Rosselló in this race" Gillum tweeted.
In his message of support for Orlando, Rosselló did not speak to Florida's opponent, Rick Scott (R. Fla), who, following Hurricane Maria, helped Puerto Rico to assist thousands of Puerto Ricans. Florida after Maria.
"It was a difficult decision for us," said Rosselló. "Governor Scott was also a friend."
But Rosselló said, "I believe in Bill Nelson."
After Rosselló approved Nelson, Scott extolled his support for the Puerto Rican community, saying that "helping Puerto Rico has never been a policy affair – it's about helping Restoring the island and ensuring that every displaced family in Florida has the resources to succeed. . "
He also called Rosselló "a friend" and is committed to "continuing to work with him in every way possible to support Puerto Rican families in both Florida and on the island".
Scott is also counting on support from other Puerto Rican officials, such as Puerto Rican congressman Jenniffer González Colón, and Luis G. Rivera Marín, secretary of state for the island.
Twenty Puerto Rican Scott supporters demonstrated in front of the Orlando pavilion, waving Puerto Rican flags and placards indicating "Rossello Ungrateful" and "Do Nothing Nelson".
Other current and former Puerto Rican officials, such as former Puerto Rican Governor Alejandro García Padilla, the Mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz, and Rosselló's father, former Governor Pedro Rosselló, approved the re-election of Senator Nelson.
More than 1.1 million Puerto Ricans already live in Florida and, according to POLITICO, nearly 500,000 of them could already be registered to vote.
More than 56,000 Puerto Ricans were transferred to Florida after Hurricane Maria, according to the latest data from the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College in New York. Many settled in Central Florida, mainly in the Orlando area.
A judge recently ordered 32 counties in Florida to provide election materials and assistance to Spanish-speaking voters ahead of the mid-term elections in November, particularly Puerto Rican voters who left the island and can register to vote since then. their birth.
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