(Photo credit: Stanley Campbell’s Facebook page)
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In one of the biggest surprises in this election cycle, the Florida AFL-CIO has endorsed Democrat Stanley Campbell for U.S. Senate over former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, the candidate who has been favored by the national and state Democratic party throughout the year.
“I am beyond honored to have the working people of Florida behind my campaign,” Campbell said in a written statement. “They know I am their champion with a lifetime of showing my willingness to fight for the working class, and to revive the energy to take Florida back.”
Screenshot of Debbie Mucarsel-Powell during a Zoom conference call on May 22, 2024
“My father would be so proud of this moment. He was a union member for most of his working life,” Campbell added of the endorsement, delivered on Sunday. “When you’re raised in a union family, you understand how critically important workers’ rights are to the working class. It was my family’s path to the middle class, and I have served as an AFL-CIO advocate for most of my adult life.”
“The endorsement will be a surprise for folks to read publicly; however, it’s important to know that Stanley Campbell has been traveling around the state, meeting with different labor and community organizations for quite some time now,” said Rich Templin, director of politics and policy for the AFL-CIO Florida, in a brief phone interview with the Phoenix on Monday afternoon.
“His candidate questionnaire required of all the candidates seeking endorsement was beyond impressive. And in our interview, he demonstrated an understanding of the issues that we’re facing in Washington, D.C. Just a lot of really in-depth knowledge on what the problems are and some really innovative ideas on how to solve them.”
Navy veteran
Campbell is a former Navy pilot, computer programmer, and one of the few Black owners of a golf course in the nation. He is one of four Democrats who have filed to run in the Aug. 20 Senate primary, with the winner likely to face GOP incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Scott this fall (in addition to Murcasel-Powell, Brian Rush and Rod Joseph are in the race for the Democratic nomination).
“Our members were impressed by his record in the Navy, his record in the national intelligence services, his record as an entrepreneur, and as a person who managed and negotiated with workers before, and that’s the reason for the endorsement,” Templin added.
Mucarsel-Powell did complete the labor organization’s questionnaire but did not meet with union members in person, Templin said.
“However, many in our leadership circles know her from her past service and past campaigns,” he added.
Mucarsel-Powell has been the favorite of the Washington and Tallahassee Democratic establishment going into this primary season. She was the only Senate Democratic candidate to get the opportunity to speak to the crowd when President Joe Biden made a campaign appearance in Tampa earlier this year.
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