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Andrew Gillum addresses supporters after being approved by Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló at a rally for the election campaign on Monday. John Raoux / AP
Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló on Monday approved Florida's Democratic candidates for governor and senator after months of intense campaigning by politicians hoping to win the tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans who fled the country. island after Hurricane Maria.
At a press conference with Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, Rosselló said he supported the incumbent president's candidacy to Republican governor Rick Scott because he was "grateful for his longstanding relationship." with the people of Puerto Rico ", citing in particular Nelson's support for Puerto Rican. State and federal benefits. He described this approval as a "difficult decision"; Scott has made eight trips to the island since the hurricane hit and said Monday he has secured the support of 59 Puerto Rican officials.
Later in the day, Rosselló announced his support for Andrew Gillum, Mayor of Tallahassee and Democratic candidate for governorship, who will face former Republican MP Ron DeSantis.
As Mother JonesAJ Vicens said the Democrats were working hard to get Puerto Ricans to Florida to visit in November, but that they still have significant hurdles to overcome:
More than one million of the approximately 5.6 million Puerto Ricans living on the American continent are in Florida. Steve Schale, a former Obama campaign strategist in Florida, said Puerto Rican voters, largely concentrated in the central Florida counties surrounding Orlando, could be a "nice big part" of a winning coalition.
But almost a year after landing the hurricane, it is not certain that these voters … will materialize. Voter registration data in Florida reveal only a slight increase in the number of Hispanic voter registrations. according to an analysis of Washington Post, the increase is not necessarily due to the new Puerto Ricans.
As US citizens, Puerto Ricans have the right to vote in Florida when they establish their residence, but many Puerto Ricans in the state still have no permanent address. People whose life has been shattered by the hurricane may have other priorities than voting, a voter activist of the recording said Mother Jones. The governor's announcement comes as activists attempt to register Latino voters in the state.
In addition to Rosselló's approval, the Florida Democrats received a boost Monday: former President Barack Obama also announced his support for Gillum and Nelson.
