Democrats run military veterans as they hope for blue wave in Florida
In Democratic primaries across Florida, veterans have gained financial support. Here’s why
The Tampa Bay Times recently featured Stephanie Vazquez among a growing group of military veterans running for office across Florida, highlighting her campaign for Pasco County Commission and her focus on bringing people together around the local issues that affect their everyday lives.
An Air Force veteran, Vazquez told the Times that her campaign stays focused on issues that cross party lines, including slowing reckless development and protecting Pasco residents over corporate interests.
She also pushed back on a misconception she frequently encounters about Democrats and patriotism:
“I think there’s a lot of misconceptions when it comes to Democrats that they don’t love their country, and that they aren’t patriotic, and I just couldn’t disagree more,” Vazquez said. “We don’t want to go to war for nothing, and we don’t want loss of life, American or otherwise, for unjustified reasons.”
The article explores why veterans are increasingly stepping forward to run for office in Florida and whether their records of service and focus on commonsense issues can help bridge the partisan divide.
