A bevy of top-ranking Democrats spoke at this year’s PRIDE festival in downtown Orlando.
On Saturday, Charlie Crist, the Democratic nominee for Governor, Val Demings, the Democratic nominee for Senator, and Dr. Jill Biden, the sitting first lady of the United States, all delivered speeches before the Coming out With Pride parade.
In front of Orlando City Hall, Crist highlighted his complaints against Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying he is “a governor that tears people down,” citing the LGBTQ and African-American communities. Crist went on to criticize the removal of poll boxes from minority communities and the loss of abortion protections, among other issues.
Demings, who will take on Senator Marco Rubio in November, piggybacked off Crist’s ideas, citing the need to protect individual rights.
“Today is about sending a strong message that we are protecting the rights of all people. We are leaving no person behind,” said Demings, who regaled the crowd with a story of her rise from the child of a maid and a janitor to the chief of police and a U.S. Congressional Representative. Demings made little mention of her opponent during her remarks.
Dr. Jill Biden, who spoke last, voiced her support of Crist and Demings and promised continued federal support of Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Ian.
Also present in the celebrations were local state representatives Anna Eskamani, Carlos Guillermo Smith, and Joy Goff-Marcil. Eskamani and Smith are running for re-election in the Florida House of Representatives, while Goff-Marcil is running against Jason Brodeur for a new Florida Senate seat in Maitland.
The youngest Democratic candidate, Maxwell Frost, was an active participant in the parade, playing a drum set on one of the floats. Frost is running against Calvin Wimbish for Florida’s 10th Congressional District seat, which covers Orlando and multiple surrounding suburbs including Lockhart, Oak Ridge, and Zellwood.