this is "Facing South Florida" with Jim DeFede.
(energetic music)
>>Welcome to "Facing South Florida"
I'm Jim DeFede, and there was a shake up
in the governor's race this week
as State Senator Annette Taddeo abandoned her campaign
to be the Democrat who would face Ron DeSantis in November.
Instead, she told me she is running
for the congressional seat now held by Maria Elvira Salazar.
Now in a few minutes, we will talk to Nikki Fried,
one of the two remaining Democrats in the race for governor.
We'll ask her how that campaign changes
now that it is just her and Charlie Crist.
But first, we speak to Taddeo
Her shift to the congressional race was not unexpected.
She was a distant third in the polls in the governor's race,
she had little money, and the congressional seat lines up
with a part of the county she already represents
in the State Senate.
So I started by asking her what finally made her decide
to switch races.
>>Absolutely, And I will tell you, I had a decision to make.
I could stay in a bruising primary,
or I could fight in this congressional.
And I'll tell you,
after you put out that there was this possibility,
I will tell you it was very humbling, first of all,
That's what we're lacking
in our community and in our country.
>>Now that you're leaving the race, are you planning
on endorsing either Nikki Fried or Charlie Crist?
Most folks would expect you to endorse Charlie Crist.
Is that gonna happen?
>>Frankly, I haven't even had an opportunity
to think about that.
As of right now, we are concentrating on making sure
that we launch this campaign for Congress
and that we give it all we have
and that we ensure that we get the seat back
and that Miami has a representative of the people
and that truly fights for the issues
that matter to Miamians.
>>The perception is is that Governor Ron DeSantis
is not beatable, that now with you out of the race
and it's either gonna be Charlie Crist or Nikki Fried,
do you honestly believe that either Charlie Crist
or Nikki Fried can beat Ron DeSantis in the fall?
>>Look, I still believe
that I would've been the strongest candidate
against Ron DeSantis,
and the reality is that we as Democrats have a huge problem
in Miami-Dade and a deficit of voters,
as well as the fact that you can't win statewide
without improving those numbers.
Biden did 25 points less than Hillary,
15 points less than Gillum,
and unless we fix that problem, it is definitely a concern.
But again, I am very, very adamant about the fact
that we need true leaders
and that we need to have those voices at the table
and fighting for the issues that matter
to people in our community.
And I'm not gonna stand on the sidelines at this moment
and not go fight for our kids' futures
to be able to have all the freedoms
that so many of us hold so dear.
>>You didn't actually answer my question.
Do you believe that Nikki Fried or Charlie Crist
can beat Ron DeSantis in the fall?
>>I always knew that this was a difficult race,
and I do believe that anything in politics, as always,
can happen, but again, unless Miami-Dade is improved
and we improve those numbers with Hispanic voters,
it is going to be very difficult.
>>All right, let's turn to the congressional race.
Let's talk about, obviously,
you have a primary there as well.
Ken Russell, the Miami City Commissioner,
has been running in that seat.
He had formally run for the Senate,
left the Senate race to run against Salazar,
but start with that.
Why do you believe you're a better fit
for the Democratic nomination than Ken Russell?
>>Look, this moment in time in this race is so much bigger
than Ken Russell or myself.
This is about Miamians, and frankly,
this seat has been a seat that has been represented
by people that, regardless of party,
have always really looked out for Miamians
and been a pivotal voice in the country representing Miami
and the diversity that we have.
And I really believe that we can win this seat back,
but we gotta have the best candidate
in order for us to win it,
and I know that I am that candidate.
I know that I represent much of the community,
and frankly, I believe that the moment requires us
to fight for this seat back and to have a representative
that's going to be honest and truly represent everyone,
not just those that vote for us.
>>Well, let's talk about the woman you hope to challenge
in November, Maria Elvira Salazar.
What is it about her record
that you think needs to be challenged?
What has she done in Congress over the past two years
that you think is outta step with the district?
>>Well, frankly, again, we're on the shoulders of giants.
Whether it was Dante Fascell or Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
or our own Donna Shalala,
this seat has always been represented, regardless of party,
by someone that would bring everyone together,
would really look out to represent the community,
to work across the aisle to get things done.
And what we've had, frankly, is a demagogue, a liar
and an embarrassment and someone that has not even voted
in the best interest of our community,
whether it is to lower gas, the cost of gas
or to put more baby formulas on shelves
or actually to protect us from domestic terrorism,
and I could go on and on.
We need to have- >>Wait, wait, wait.
I want you to be specific
because if you're gonna make the allegation
that she's a demagogue and a liar, please be specific.
What do you believe she has lied about?
'Cause that's a serious charge,
to say that someone is a liar.
>>Well, look, there are so many instances,
and we will have a long campaign
where we will bring out all of the issues,
but I know I can go toe-to-toe.
But more importantly, Jim, this is, again,
this is about the future of our kids
and making sure we have a representative
that's actually going to be upfront with the voters,
that's going to try to bring us together
instead of divide us and separate us,
and vote in the best interest of our community,
not votes that are so partisan and so extreme,
that you're not really looking out
for the best interest of Miamians.
>>You know, this is a rough year to be a Democrat running
for a congressional seat, let alone statewide,
but for a congressional seat.
Everyone anticipates that there is going to be a red wave
that will move across the country,
that Democrats will lose power in the House,
could also lose control of the Senate.
What makes you think that this is a seat that can go
from being a red seat to a blue seat
in a year in which there are gonna be a lotta Democrats
across the country wiped out of office?
>>Indeed, this seat and this race will not be easy,
and I am obviously attracted to tough races.
But look, I currently represent a seat that voted
for Trump by six points.
I'm very popular in my district,
and that is because, again, I truly represent
all of my community, whether they voted for me or not,
and try to be that voice and that fighter for them,
and that's not what we have right now.
So I think if anyone can go against whatever wave
or whatever movement there is,
nobody expected me to win in a special election after all.
Democrats were notorious for not winning special elections
where we were trying to flip a seat from red to blue.
It was the first time in Florida history,
and we did it, and I know we can do it again.
We can flip this seat and actually have a representative
that's going to represent all of Miamians,
no matter which party they represent, and bring us together.