Florida Democrats Rescind Support Over Candidate’s Anti-LGBTQ History
A number of Florida Democrats renounced support for a candidate seeking statewide office after anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion social media posts surfaced.Agriculture Commissioner candidate Naomi Esther Blemur distanced herself from the posts, but not before supporters including Florida’s only out state Senator bailed on her campaign.
She’s in the running for the Democratic nomination in a three-way primary.“As a strong voice for reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights, I found Naomi Esther Blemur’s past comments unsettling as they’ve come to light,” tweeted state Sen.
Shevrin Jones, a Democrat. “These comments run counter to my record of protecting and advancing the rights of Floridians, and I’ve retracted said support from her campaign.”Jones and others publicly renounced Blemur after campaigns for her Democratic Primary opponents shared historic social media posts indicating hostile views on abortion and LGBTQ rights.Blemur on Sunday released a statement dismissing attacks on her campaign.“As a woman, a woman of color, a daughter of immigrants and Haitian-Americans, I’ve always had to over explain and prove myself beyond the average standard,” she said. “This campaign has only magnified this.
I have been smeared with fake emails, websites, social media accounts, and slandering tweets. Through it all, I have maintained and practiced, ‘when they go low, we go high.’ Nevertheless, the attacks have continued on every side.
