I’ve written a lot about Florida politics because, you know, I live here. I’m really tired of writing pieces every year, like this one or this one, about simple things my state party can do to stop losing. This is too important a year to screw up, and we are already off to the races.
Naomi Blumer is a member of the Miami Dade Democratic Executive Committee running to become Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In Florida, it’s a major position of power. Currently, it’s being held by Nikki Fried—the only Democrat who holds statewide office. She is vacating the position to take on Ron DeSantis this year.
The state Democratic machine has coalesced around Naomi Blemur for this post. She has been endorsed by multiple Democrats, such as Representative Annette Taddeo, state Senator Shevrin Jones, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Cava, and many, many others. In fact, her twitter feed is a non-stop endorsement factory from multiple mayors, commissioners, and Democratic leaders. There’s also several newspaper editorials saying Democrats should vote for her. But if she wins the primary, she will be a disaster.
Why?
First of all, these positions are slightly problematic:
This is disturbing:
And yet it gets worse. Kim Burrell is a homophobic gospel singer who calls gay people “perverted” and sinful. Naomi Blemur defended her using the same tired playbook the GOP always uses to defend their hate speech: cancel culture...
By the way, now that she has the backing of establishment Dems, and now knows abortion has become a top issue this year, she’s changed her tune. At the very least, even though she’s wrong, I could have respected the courage of her convictions if she kept them. Actually, at the very least, she could have said something less insulting along the lines of “upon further reflection...” Yes, it would have been a lie, but c’mon, at least don’t insult our collective intelligence by claiming you have ALWAYS been pro-choice.
Social media doesn’t go away because you want it to.
Then there’s her checkered past.
This time I’m not the only one calling out the state Democrats for screwing the pooch as usual. This piece from West Orlando News doesn’t even mention her abortion or LGBTQ+ positions. But hooo boy:
Democratic candidate Naomi Blemur may be leading the race currently, but her critics say she is a prime example of the dismal future of a Democratic Party that continues to value loyalty to the establishment over the working people they supposedly represent.
While she seems to have a compelling personal story, Blemur’s policies are nowhere to be found on the internet or elsewhere. This is raising concerns about her political aspirations and posing questions about her commitment to representing Floridians and serving as Agriculture Commissioner.
Her opponents are also pointing out her personal connections to extensive fraud, name changes, a flurry of court cases and a husband who defrauded millions of dollars from Florida's Haitian community.
Forgive my unprofessionalism, but W.T.F?!??!
Could the Florida Democratic Party do the BARE MINIMUM to vet a statewide candidate before going all in? Does GOOGLE not work in your offices? Do you even know what Twitter is?
Do you clowns not understand that if she is on our the statewide slate that gives the GOP open season for smearing ALL of our candidates with corruption? Do you want a statewide race against DeSantis and Rubio where they will make the race about her?
For agriculture commissioner, there are two other qualified candidates in the race for the Florida Primary held August 13-20:
- J.R. Gaillot, a Haitian-American, is a Harvard-educated legislative director who was the Democratic nominee for Florida's 3rd congressional district
- Ryan Morales is a small business owner and cannabis activist.
I couldn’t care less who you pick, but don’t pick Naomi.
One last thing. Florida is not a red state, but the GOP has taken full control because Democratic leaders in this state are so inept. We don’t capitalize on our constitutional amendments, the only progressive progress we have been able to make in the past decade. We cede rural areas, and take blue areas for granted. We allow the GOP to get a foot hold into our immigrant communities, whom they bash most of the year until election time. We leave our own Democratic candidate to fend for themselves. Oh—and do some damn research before backing someone next time.
I say this because we need to change. There are more Democrats in this state than Republicans, and I’m tired of losing. Florida is becoming an authoritarian playground, and we had better get our act together. Quick.
End Rant.