Crist receives endorsement from 'Gen Z' voter advocacy group Voters of Tomorrow

Charlie Crist, the Democratic candidate for governor of Florida, was in Orlando on Tuesday where he picked up an endorsement from an organization that targets "Generation Z" voters, challenging them to become more engaged in the political process. 

Jayden D’Onofrio, a political strategist and spokesman for the group Voters of Tomorrow, announced the organization's endorsement in a scathing rebuke of the policies set forth by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

"Our state has become under fire and outright besieged by a plethora of backward policymaking such as book banning, homophobic rhetoric represented by things like the ‘Don’t Say Gay' bill, rampant corporate greed, and even the attempt to abolish reproductive rights for Floridians able to have children across our state," said D’Onofrio. "Lest we forget that Ron DeSantis has attempted to roll back voting rights for minorities across the state."

In a short speech that followed, Crist focused on reproductive rights, telling the young crowd, "The choice is choice!" He was joined by his running mate, Karla Hernandez, congressional candidate Maxwell Frost, and prominent Democratic state lawmakers. 

"Unfortunately, we have a governor who tears down people every day. He's a divider.  I'm a uniter," Crist said of DeSantis. "He attacks LGBTQ children! Children! You know? Takes away, and draws out, African-American congressional districts – like Al Lawson's in North Florida and Val's here."

Crist resigned from Congress on Aug. 31 to focus on his race against current Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.  The two will face off in the November election after Crist won the Democratic nomination for governor in Florida during the primaries, defeating Nikki Fried, the state agriculture commissioner.