Florida News

Democrat Annette Taddeo is running for Florida governor in 2022

WUSF | By Associated Press

Published October 18, 2021 at 8:51 PM CDT

Annette Taddeo, right, talks to reporters during a news conference as gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist listens in Miami in July 2014. State Sen. On Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, Taddeo announced she'll run for governor, entering a Democratic primary against U.S. Rep. Crist, who chose her as his running mate in an unsuccessful bid for governor in 2014.

State Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, is entering the Democratic primary for governor in Florida.

She made her announcement Monday and now will battle U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried for the nomination to face Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Taddeo was Crist's running mate in his unsuccessful bid for governor in 2014.

In a Twitter video released on Monday, Taddeo said she is "fighting for a science based, common sense approach to public health in this pandemic."

Breaking news: I’m running for Governor of our great state of Florida, because I believe in us! Yo confío en nosotros. Join us and let's make history. pic.twitter.com/5o9n6T4hBD
— Annette Taddeo (She/Her/Ella) (@Annette_Taddeo) October 18, 2021

In a phone interview, her focus was more on DeSantis. She criticized the governor's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly his fight with local school boards who approve mask mandates for students.

Taddeo has served in the Senate since 2017 and has also twice run for Congress.