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| 2024 Election: | Joe Biden's book | Kamala Harris' book | Donald Trump's book | JD Vance's book | 2024 Senate Debates |
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| Book Reviews | |||||||||||||||
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(from Amazon.com) | |||||||||||||||
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(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com) |
from Past and present Governor candidates from Florida (number of quotes indicated): |
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details) |
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Abortion Andrew Gillum: Defunding Planned Parenthood jeopardizes women's health. Andrew Gillum: Decision should be made by women & their doctors. Annette Taddeo: Defends a woman's right to make choices about her own body. Charlie Crist: 2006: I'm pro-life; 2014: That was for Republicans. Nikki Fried: Require half the legislature be female for new abortion laws. Philip Levine: Women have the right to be pro-choice, government keep out. Ron DeSantis: Ban abortions after fetal heartbeat detected. Ron DeSantis: Anti-choice on abortion; pro-choice on vaccinations. Charlie Crist: Voted for Women's Health Protection Act after Roe overturned. Ron DeSantis: FactCheck: Only 1.3% of abortions take place after 21 weeks. Brian Moore: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right. David Jolly: Florida should codify the Roe/Casey framework. |
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Budget & Economy Adam Putnam: Don't make Florida into California & their debt. Andrew Gillum: Stimulus better than market-led recovery. Annette Taddeo: Budget should help struggling families, not make it harder. Charlie Crist: Worked to pass the American Rescue Plan. Jeb Bush: Supports constitutional balanced budget amendment. Nikki Fried: We need to be bringing in new industries to our state. Philip Levine: An economy that works for all Floridians. Rick Scott: 777 economic plan: 7 Steps to 700,000 Jobs in 7 Years. Brian Moore: Stimulus better than market-led recovery. Jerry Demings: $160M over 10 years for affordable and workforce housing. |
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Civil Rights Andrew Gillum: Take down Confederate monuments. Andrew Gillum: Staunch supporter of LGBT rights. Andrew Gillum: Oppose discrimination based on gender identity. Andrew Gillum: Supports same-sex marriage. Annette Taddeo: State must value everyone no matter their sexual orientation. Charlie Crist: 2010: Backed gay marriage ban; 2014: supports gay marriage. Charlie Crist: I left GOP because they bash Obama's race. Charlie Crist: I support same-sex marriage. Nikki Fried: Banning transgender kids in sports is peddling hate. Nikki Fried: Updated personnel policies to ban LGBTQ discrimination. Philip Levine: History of being a fierce champion for LGBTQ rights. Rick Scott: I support traditional marriage. Ron DeSantis: Backs bill impeding voting by ex-felons. Val Demings: To cops after George Floyd:"What in the hell are you doing?". Byron Donalds: During Jim Crow, the Black family was together. David Jolly: Marriage should be defined by church, not by the state. Jerry Demings: Added an LGBTQ+ Community liaison to his executive staff. |
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Corporations Adam Putnam: Cut regulations & taxes for farms & businesses. Andrew Gillum: Corporate tax cuts can create jobs, support training. Andrew Gillum: Raise corporate taxes from 5.5% to 7.75%. Andrew Gillum: 90% of businesses pay no corporate income tax, & too little. Andrew Gillum: Trump tax cuts gave billions to our richest corporations. Philip Levine: Stop special interest tax breaks in Tallahassee. |
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Crime Andrew Gillum: Restorative justice programs to reduce teen recidivism. Andrew Gillum: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime. Andrew Gillum: Ban the box: re-entry of returning citizens into job market. Charlie Crist: Reimagine law enforcement; restore trust with police. Nikki Fried: Supported posthumous clemency for Groveland Four. Philip Levine: Top-down & bottom-up audit of the Department of Corrections. Rick Scott: Signs death warrant for murderer. Rick Scott: Let's Keep Florida Safe: focus on reductions in crime. Ron DeSantis: Don't restore voting rights to former felons. Brian Moore: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime. Jason Pizzo: Florida "pay to stay" law is ridiculous, needs to be changed. Jerry Demings: As Sheriff he deployed police body-worn cameras. |
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Drugs Adam Putnam: Opposes marijuana legalization as a gateway drug. Andrew Gillum: Focus on opioid epidemic as medical issue. Andrew Gillum: Marijuana isn't a gateway drug. Andrew Gillum: legalize marijuana, and tax it. Charlie Crist: Supports legalizing recreational marijuana. Nikki Fried: Advocated for medical marijuana & legalization. Nikki Fried: Advocated for medical marijuana & legalization. Nikki Fried: State should license black farmers for medical marijuana. Nikki Fried: As lobbyist, helped legalize smokable medical cannabis. Philip Levine: Combat the opioid epidemic by expanding Medicaid. Rick Scott: Drug courts & alternatives to incarceration. Rick Scott: OpEd: Requiring drug testing for welfare is unconstitutional. Ron DeSantis: No recreational marijuana; let voters decide medical usage. Brian Moore: Treat drug addiction and mental health on a massive scale. Jerry Demings: Medical marijuana is the wolf in sheep's clothing. |
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Education Adam Putnam: Parental control of education, not state or federal. Adam Putnam: Urges veto of school choice bill. Adam Putnam: More emphasis on technical training, not college. Andrew Gillum: End punitive high-stakes testing regime. Andrew Gillum: Opposes vouchers for school choice. Andrew Gillum: $1B on education: set minimum teacher salary at $50,000. Andrew Gillum: Debt-free college in exchange for 4 years' work in Florida. Andrew Gillum: $1 billion Fair Share investment in public schools. Andrew Gillum: Make college debt-free for nurses & teachers. Annette Taddeo: Expand state's pre-K program to a full day. Philip Levine: Replace high-stakes testing with more comprehensive scoring. Philip Levine: Invest in public schools; stop funds to private/charters. Ron DeSantis: Expand voucher and charters; stop Common Core. Ron DeSantis: Expand both charters & vouchers. Ron DeSantis: Fund training for high schoolers who enter workforce. Ron DeSantis: Signed bills to protect religious freedom in Florida. Ron DeSantis: Make sure people are not supporting critical race theory. Ron DeSantis: Don't sow doubts among children about gender identity. Brian Moore: Opposes vouchers for school choice. Byron Donalds: A record of keeping radical woke ideology out of schools. David Jolly: State voucher program built on a model likely to collapse. |
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Energy & Oil Adam Putnam: Florida positioned to be oil hub for energy independence. Andrew Gillum: Climate change is a real; transition to clean energy. Andrew Gillum: Transition Florida to clean energy as rapidly as possible. Andrew Gillum: Make Florida world leader in rooftop solar energy production. Andrew Gillum: Withdrawal from Paris Climate accord is reckless. Brian Moore: Prioritize green energy. Charlie Crist: I'm not a scientists, but I can use my brain & talk to one. Nikki Fried: Middle of the road policies got C-minus from Sierra Club. Nikki Fried: Proposed a state-federal partnership on carbon farming. Philip Levine: $24M project to mitigate sea-rise in Miami Beach. Philip Levine: Against offshore drilling; invest instead in solar energy. Philip Levine: Effectively tackled challenges of climate change in Miami. Rick Scott: I'm not a scientist, so I have no proposal on climate change. Ron DeSantis: No carbon tax; no wind energy subsidy. Byron Donalds: Climate change risk is almost impossible to quantify. David Jolly: Florida should accept the science of climate change. Jerry Demings: Expand renewable power like solar, invest in energy storage. |
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Environment Adam Putnam: Unravel the EPA mess; it kills jobs & increases costs. Andrew Gillum: EPA protects our families from corporate toxic pollution. Andrew Gillum: EPA has critical role in protecting us from toxic pollution. Andrew Gillum: Properly fund Florida Forever and Everglades restorations. Andrew Gillum: Redirect freshwater flow, with pollution standards. Nikki Fried: Initiated a plan to phase out the use of Styrofoam products. Nikki Fried: State needs to deal with potentially polluting gypsum stacks. Nikki Fried: Asks that manatees again be listed as "endangered" species. Rick Scott: Lay off DEP staff; environmental compliance & no enforcement. Rick Scott: Base environmental policy on sound science, not politics. Ron DeSantis: Stop Lake Okeechobee discharges that caused algae crisis. Ron DeSantis: Deal with Red Tide: clean the water; build a reservoir. Brian Moore: Support the EPA. Jerry Demings: Protect our oceans by never allowing offshore drilling. |
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Families & Children Andrew Gillum: Invited same-sex couples to get married in Tallahassee. Brian Moore: Comfortable with same-sex marriage. Ron DeSantis: Protect faith-based noncooperation with gay marriage. |
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Foreign Policy Andrew Gillum: Support American Exceptionalism. Annette Taddeo: Even if oil were free, don't go to Maduro regime for help. Charlie Crist: Lift the Cuban embargo; it has failed for 50 years. Nikki Fried: I am supporting the American-Israeli relationship. Rick Scott: Cuba's Castros are terrorists; don't travel there. Brian Moore: Oppose this false notion of American exceptionalism. Jason Pizzo: Those criticizing Israel are silent on Yemen and Syria. |
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Free Trade Andrew Gillum: Support free trade with restrictions. Andrew Gillum: Trump's tariffs threaten Florida's workers, farmers. Brian Moore: Free trade causes global inequalities & job loss. Nikki Fried: Opposed Trump trade deal, foreign produce dumping. Ron DeSantis: Trump's tariffs will get concessions from China. Ron DeSantis: Expands program to engage new international markets. Byron Donalds: We're going to go down the line with Trump on tariffs. Jerry Demings: Tariffs on Canada have definitely impacted tourism. |
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Government Reform Andrew Gillum: Limit corporate money in campaigns. Andrew Gillum: Make voter registration easier. Andrew Gillum: Campaign funded by many small donors plus two billionaires. Andrew Gillum: Bring it Home Florida: voter registration drive for 2020. Annette Taddeo: Republican legislature has suppressed voters' rights. Charlie Crist: Extend voting hours across the state for all. Charlie Crist: Criticized restrictive elections bill & anti-riot bill. Jeb Bush: No campaign spending limits; no public financing. Nikki Fried: Been transparent on finances including past filing mistakes. Nikki Fried: Would reverse restrictions on voting rights. Nikki Fried: Republicans engage in voter suppression. Rick Scott: Free speech includes financially supporting candidates. Ron DeSantis: State legislatures decide presidential electors . Brian Moore: Make voter registration easier. David Jolly: Florida should lead the nation in campaign finance reform. |
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Gun Control Adam Putnam: Expanded concealed weapon licenses program; largest in US. Andrew Gillum: Operation Safe Neighborhood: community crime watch. Andrew Gillum: Favors strong gun laws. Andrew Gillum: No right to guns for domestic abusers or mentally ill. Andrew Gillum: Prohibit bump stocks and assault weapons. Andrew Gillum: Universal background checks & assault weapon ban. Andrew Gillum: Voting rights to former felons: they deserve a second chance. Annette Taddeo: Allow municipalities to pass stricter gun regulations. Nikki Fried: Kicked the NRA out of weapons license permitting. Nikki Fried: Holds medical marijuana card and concealed-weapons permit. Nikki Fried: Kicked the NRA out of weapons license permitting. Nikki Fried: Supports common-sense gun violence prevention reforms. Philip Levine: We need gun control reform with a common sense approach. Rick Scott: 21-year-old age requirement & 3-day wait on gun purchases. Ron DeSantis: Allow carrying guns openly and on college campuses. Ron DeSantis: Concealed carry statewide; open-carry on campuses. Brian Moore: No absolute right to gun ownership. David Jolly: Ban assault weapons; require background checks. Jason Pizzo: I don't trust students having guns in their dorm room. Jerry Demings: Wants universal background checks, limits on open carry. |
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Health Care Andrew Gillum: Healthcare should be a fundamental right. Andrew Gillum: Extend Medicaid to one million Floridians. Andrew Gillum: Expand ObamaCare; Medicare for Al. Andrew Gillum: Medicare for all: universal health care is a right. Andrew Gillum: Medicare-for-All, paid $1B restoration of corporate tax cuts. Andrew Gillum: Expand Medicaid in Florida; work toward Medicare-for-All. Annette Taddeo: Override governor; let voters decide on Medicaid expansion. Charlie Crist: AdWatch: unwavering support of ObamaCare. Charlie Crist: 2007 & 2010: opposed ObamaCare; now supports fixing it. Gwen Graham: Apply ObamaCare to full-time workers, not 30 hours per week. Jeb Bush: No physician-assisted suicide. Nikki Fried: Criticized Florida AG for joining anti-ACA lawsuit. Philip Levine: Expand Medicaid; give healthcare access to everyone. Rick Scott: AdWatch: "Let's Get to Work" opposing ObamaCare. Ron DeSantis: No right to health care; that's just a bureaucratic right. Ron DeSantis: Repeal ObamaCare; health care isn't a right. Ron DeSantis: Supports $5000 fines for businesses demanding vaccine proof. Brian Moore: Opposes ObamaCare because it allows private sector. David Jolly: Expand Medicaid: ensure healthcare for all Floridians. Jerry Demings: Expand Medicaid to cover those who need it most. |
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Homeland Security Adam Putnam: Make Florida the most military friendly & vet friendly state. Adam Putnam: Use conservation money to protect military bases. Andrew Gillum: Opposes expanding the military. Annette Taddeo: Opposes DeSantis plan to have state military force. Charlie Crist: Led effort to ensure veterans had access to COVID vaccine. Philip Levine: Military veterans should receive the benefits they deserve. Ron DeSantis: $3.4 million in state spending to support military. Brian Moore: Oppose expanding the military. Jerry Demings: Make Florida the most military-friendly state in America. |
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Immigration Adam Putnam: Opposed anti-immigrant laws that might affect workers. Adam Putnam: Muslim ban is offensive to American values. Adam Putnam: Don't let illegal aliens vote for anything. Andrew Gillum: Protect Dreamers from end of DACA. Andrew Gillum: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens. Andrew Gillum: Protect borders without criminalizing undocumented people. Andrew Gillum: DACA is unconstitutional; opposes any path to citizenship. Annette Taddeo: Documented & undocumented immigrants contribute. Nikki Fried: Fought against Florida ban on "sanctuary cities". Philip Levine: Fully supports a pathway to citizenship for immigrants. Rick Scott: In-state tuition for illegals, as part of tuition cap deal. Ron DeSantis: Supports E-Verify; opposes sanctuary cities. Ron DeSantis: DACA is unconstitutional; opposes any path to citizenship. Ron DeSantis: End catch and release, finish the border wall. Ron DeSantis: Pull over drivers suspected of transporting immigrants. Brian Moore: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens. Byron Donalds: Secure the border; end taxpayer handouts to illegals. David Jolly: Crossing the border without legal status not a crime. Jerry Demings: Signed agreement with ICE under protest and extreme duress. |
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Jobs Andrew Gillum: Supports state $15 minimum wage. Andrew Gillum: Legally require hiring more women & minorities. Brian Moore: Legally require hiring more women/minorities. Charlie Crist: Minimum wage increase good; living wage better. Philip Levine: For raising minimum wage; let local communities decide rate. Rick Scott: FactCheck: Yes, unemployment up; but stimulus has helped. Rick Scott: Opposed increasing the minimum wage. Rick Scott: Designed unemployment system with maximum $275/week benefit. Ron DeSantis: Oversaw unemployment system with maximum $275/week benefit. Jerry Demings: Complied with anti-DEI order to avoid losing federal money. |
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Principles & Values Andrew Gillum: Religious-political dialogue good. Andrew Gillum: Served a decade on City Commission and as Tallahassee mayor. Andrew Gillum: Keep God in the public sphere. Annette Taddeo: Father was kidnapped by a Marxist terrorist group. Charlie Crist: We need to stop the division and hate; bring state together. Charlie Crist: I stand for fairness and trying to treat people right. Charlie Crist: This is a moment for inclusion rather than exclusion. Nikki Fried: We can build a state that gives power back to you. Nikki Fried: We've got to learn again how to respect one another. Rick Scott: FanGate: Refused to debate if opponent allowed to use a fan. Ron DeSantis: Compels schools to have moment of silence for prayer. Brian Moore: Keep God out of the public sphere. David Jolly: Going from GOP to Democrats part of political evolution. Jason Pizzo: No one can say I've ever been bullied or bought. Jason Pizzo: Mixing faith and politics desecrates innocent faith in God. |
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Social Security Andrew Gillum: Fight any attempt to privatize Social Security. Brian Moore: Don't privatize Social Security. |
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Tax Reform Adam Putnam: Opposes a "kayak tax" on non-motorized boats. Adam Putnam: Amend constitution to make tax hikes harder. Andrew Gillum: Economy should works for all, not just those at the top. Andrew Gillum: Trump tax cuts put billions into richest coffers. Brian Moore: Higher taxes on the wealthy. Charlie Crist: 2009: temporary $25 average car fee increase. Philip Levine: Level the playing field; rich will pay their fair share. Rick Scott: $500 million in automobile fee & tax relief. Rick Scott: Saved business more than $2.3 billion in unemployment taxes. Ron DeSantis: Keep Florida a low-tax state; super-majority to raise taxes. Ron DeSantis: Tax cuts help US companies compete with foreign businesses. Byron Donalds: Lower taxes, less regulation will keep our economy strong. David Jolly: Can't repeal property tax without solution for revenue. Jerry Demings: Local county taxes remain relatively low. |
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Technology Adam Putnam: Get Fed money for infrastructure for roads. Andrew Gillum: Digital Harmony Project: computers & internet for schoolkids. Andrew Gillum: Greater emphasis on light rail and mass transit. Andrew Gillum: Net neutrality protected FL communities & residents. Nikki Fried: Protect children from unsafe products, such as social media. Philip Levine: Infrastructure must be modernized to meet 21st century needs. Ron DeSantis: FCC requirement for net neutrality was a massive power grab. Ron DeSantis: Net neutrality was an FEC massive power grab. |
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War & Peace Andrew Gillum: America should be world's human rights champion. Brian Moore: Avoid foreign entanglements & regime change abroad. |
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Welfare & Poverty Adam Putnam: Weeding out fraudulent charities. Andrew Gillum: Public/private program gets youth on right track. Andrew Gillum: Address income inequality; remake an innovation economy. Rick Scott: Require drug testing for receiving welfare. |
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Gubernatorial winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - Senatorial winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - U.S. House of Representatives winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - |
All material copyright 1999-2022 by Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org Reprinting by permission only. |
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Page last edited: Mar 15, 2026
