With competitive races for both Governor and US Senate in Florida, the Democratic and Republican candidates alike are pursuing the votes of the Puerto Rican community as the key to winning the contested seats.

Nearly 1.1 million Puerto Ricans live in Florida, likely making up almost half a million of the state’s 13 million registered voters. Florida was a top destination for Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria, and while many are returning to the territory, there is evidence that a large number of displaced families intend to stay on the mainland long-term.

Governor Race

Democratic candidate for governor and Mayor of Tallahassee Andrew Gillum counts over a dozen new endorsement from Puerto Rican leaders in Florida and across the US. Notable endorsements come from US Representatives Nydia Velazquez (D) of New York, Luis Gutierrez (D) of Illinois, and Darren Soto (D) of Florida, who was the first Puerto Rican to be elected to Congress from Florida.

Among the endorsements from elected officials based in Florida, state representatives Robert Asencio (D), John Cortes (D), and Amy Mercado (D), as well as Florida State Senator Victor Torres (D) have also endorsed Gillum. They are joined by Greenacres Mayor Joel Flores, Melbourne Councilwoman Teresa Lopez, and County Commissioners Viviana Janer (Osceola County) and Emily Bonilla (Orange County). Orange and Osceola Counties are home to nearly one-third of the 150,000 Puerto Ricans who left the territory in the six months after Hurricane Maria.

Other notable Floridian endorsements came from Democratic Hispanic Caucus President Noemi McGregor, Chairman of the Florida Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Sam Lopez, and Alianza for Progress President Juan Marcos Villar.

In Puerto Rico, Gillum’s endorsements count current governor Ricardo Rosselló (NPP, D), former Governor of Puerto Rico Alejandro García Padilla (NPP, D), Puerto Rico Senator Margarita Nolasco Santiago (NPP, D), Gurabo Mayor Rosachely Rivera Santiago (NPP, D), and Former Chairman of Democratic Party of Puerto Rico Charlie Rodriguez.

Truly honored to have @ricardorossello’s endorsement in this race. pic.twitter.com/y3K2nC7nab — Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) October 1, 2018

At an October 1 rally with Governor Rosselló in Kissimmee, a major center of Florida’s Puerto Rican community, Gillum claimed he wanted to be the “candidate of the Boricuas,” saying “I want that label, and not in a tokenizing way.” He added, “I want it in a way that says we understand each other, in a way that says we’re one and the same. You’re not gifting any of us anything. We work for what we’ve got.”

On November 6, Gillum will face Donald Trump-endorsed Republican candidate Ron DeSantis. DeSantis, flew to Puerto Rico in August for a town hall with Governor Rosselló and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón (NPP, R), as well to tour to study the ongoing Hurricane recovery efforts also looks to appeal to his state’s Puerto Rican community. In September, DeSantis’ campaign released a a rare contradiction of the president in a public statement, claiming he “doesn’t believe any loss of life has been inflated,” referring to Trump’s public rejection of the estimates of Hurricane Maria victims.

In a statement, @RonDeSantisFL disagrees with Trump: "Ron DeSantis is committed to standing with the Puerto Rican community, especially after such a tragic loss of life. He doesn’t believe any loss of life has been inflated." — Emily L. Mahoney (@mahoneysthename) September 13, 2018

“We think there is a real opportunity to pick up Puerto Rican votes for Republicans in Florida, despite what Democrats say,” claimed DeSantis spokesman Brad Herold. The DeSantis campaign has yet to court any high-profile Puerto Rican endorsements.

Senate Race

Endorsements in the race for Florida’s US Senate seat are much less one-sided, where Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson will face Republican Governor Rick Scott. While Nelson secured the endorsement of Governor Rosselló and his father, a former governor, Scott touts the endorsement of 59 Puerto Rican officials; including former governors, Senators, and other elected representatives.