Charlie Crist in 2022 FL Governor's race
On Drugs:
Supports legalizing recreational marijuana
The former Republican is running on a progressive agenda. He said in his speech that he supports legalizing recreational marijuana,
raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and banning assault weapons.
Source: Bay News 9 Spectrum on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
May 4, 2021
On Government Reform:
Criticized restrictive elections bill & anti-riot bill
He criticized actions from the most recent legislative session in Florida, referencing the controversial elections bill passed restricting access to voting and an anti-riot bill critics say will have a chilling effect on peaceful protests.
Crist said he would "make it easier to vote" in Florida, expand Medicaid, raise the minimum wage to $15 a hour and "treat climate change as the existential threat that it is."
Source: CNN Politics on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
May 4, 2021
On Principles & Values:
We need to stop the division and hate; bring state together
[Candidacy announcement]: "We need to stop the division and hate, bring our state together,"
Crist told several dozen supporters gathered under a blistering sun in South St. Petersburg. "You deserve jobs you can live on, housing you can afford and justice that's equal."
Source: The Tampa Bay Times on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
May 4, 2021
On Abortion:
Voted for Women's Health Protection Act after Roe overturned
Much of the debate focused on the sharp divide in Florida when it comes to abortion rights with Crist promising to sign an executive order, if elected, to protect access for women. "I want to make sure we keep a woman's right to choose available to the
women of the state of Florida," Crist said."He supports dismemberment abortions where they literally tear the baby limb from limb. And he supports taxpayer-funded abortion all the way up to the moment of birth, and that is wrong," DeSantis said.
That claim is mostly false. The claim refers to the Women's Health Protection Act which passed along party lines after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Crist voted with the majority on the measure that, technically, would make abortion legal up to birth.
The Washington Post has pointed out this is more political than practical reality since just 5.5% of abortions take place after 15 weeks and 1.3% are performed at 21 weeks or later.
Source: WESH FactCheck on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Oct 25, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 14, 2023