Top Democratic Challengers Vying to Take on DeSantis Battle on Debate Stage

The top two Democrats hoping to unseat Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis this fall faced off in a contentious televised debate in Miami on June 21.

But the opponents paused their verbal sparring to agree on a handful of issues facing the Sunshine State.

U.S. House Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) and Nikki Fried, the state’s agriculture commissioner, concurred that soaring home prices and property insurance costs warrant emergency action.

Both promised, if elected, to work to “ban assault weapons.” And both said they’d support the death sentence for the shooter on trial for killing 17 at a school in Parkland, Fla., in 2018.

During the debate—featuring many questions in Spanish and translated for the candidates—both said they favored comprehensive immigration reform. One million “undocumented workers” in agriculture are “essential to our economy,” Fried said.

And both vowed to repeal the Parental Rights in Education bill. The legislation sparked controversy around the country after opponents dubbed it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Crist and Fried lead a field of four Democrats hoping to displace DeSantis. They’ll face off on Aug. 23 in the Democratic primary for governor.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) attends a round table discussion with Venezuelan immigrants about renewing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans in Miami, Fla., July 06, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

DeSantis, the incumbent, doesn’t have a Republican challenger. So he automatically advances to the general election on Nov. 8.

Parental Rights in Education

During the debate, Crist and Fried expressed outrage for DeSantis. But nothing inflamed them as much as the new Parental Rights in Education law.

Signed by DeSantis in March, the legislation bans instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms of children in third grade or younger. It requires schools to involve parents when critical decisions about a student are