Rep. Daisy Morales Endorsed by 4 Current and Former State Lawmakers in HD 44 Race
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – On Thursday, Representative Daisy Morales’s re-election campaign for State Representative announced strong support from five diverse leaders joining Florida’s only Puerto Rican member of Congress, Congressman Darren Soto in endorsing her for Florida House District 44.
Rep. Morales, the highest ranking elected Puerto Rican woman in Florida, currently represents District 48 in the Florida House. She’s running in the newly redrawn District 44, which also has a large Puerto Rican population.
Morales’s Endorsements
Morales was endorsed by one Ocoee City Commissioner, along with current and former state lawmakers.
According to Morales’ press release, her endorsers include:
- State Representative Susan Valdés (D-Tampa)
- State Representative Kristen Arrington (D-Kissimmee)
- Former state representative and Democratic deputy whip John Cortes (D-Kissimmee)
- Former state representative Bruce Antone (D-Orlando)
- Ocoee District 4 Commissioner George Oliver, III (Democrat)
The four lawmakers shared Morales common passions of education and family. Cortes served on the Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee, which Rep. Valdés is currently the ranking Democratic member for. Antone served as the Democratic Ranking Member on the Education Committee, and both Reps. Arrington and Valdés serve with Morales on the Education & Employment Committee.
“[Rep.] Morales is deeply rooted in the community,” said Cortes. “She’s a strong advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves, which is exactly what we need in Tallahassee.”
Diversity Matters
Antone and Commissioner Oliver’s passion and activism have left a massive imprint on the African American community. Antone is the former chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, which serves as a voice for African American communities across Florida, and Commissioner Oliver made history as Ocoee’s first-ever African American commissioner elected to the City Council. Oliver’s been making history in Ocoee ever since.
“These leaders share my vision of working across the aisle and using common sense solutions to get results for all Florida families. I’m proud to have their endorsements and look forward to serving a second term in the Florida House,” said Morales. “I’m ready to serve the people of District 44.”
Primary Challenger
Morales will face Democratic challenger Jennifer Rita Harris in the August 2022 primary election. In 2020, Morales easily defeated four Democratic primary challengers, including two who received more donations and endorsements than she did in their bid to win the Florida House District 48 nomination. She also defeated her republican opponent to win the general election by a landslide or 65% of the total votes.
Former State Representative and then incumbent Amy Mercado had endorsed Morales’s 2020 primary challenger, Samuel Vilchez Santiago. The youngest candidate in the race was acclaimed by the Orlando Sentinel and Florida Politics as a rising star, but that didn’t matter. Morales still defeated him in the primary. Mercado, the current Orange County Property Appraiser, has joined her father, State Sen. Victor Torres, in endorsing Morales’s new challenger, Harris.
No Republican is currently running in the District 44 race.