Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam may not be totally happy Donald Trump is the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee for the 2016 election, but that doesn’t mean he’ll turn his back on voting for the billionaire businessman come November.
On Tuesday, Putnam added his name to the list of Republicans who said they will put their support behind Trump, who has quickly become one of the most hotly-contested and controversial candidates in recent history.
Putnam initially started out supporting former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for the nomination, but when Bush bowed out of the primary in February, he shifted his support to U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, the only Floridian left in the race at the time.
"I have said from the beginning I would support the nominee," Putnam told the Tampa Bay Times, adding he wouldn’t support likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Putnam isn’t the only member of the Florida Cabinet to come out in support of Trump. Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi both endorsed Trump in March, while Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater said months ago he wouldn’t be endorsing Trump anytime soon -- but did say he would vote for the eventual Republican nominee.
Florida was one of Trump’s biggest wins in the Republican primary, where he took 66 of the 67 counties needed to clinch a victory of the state’s 99 delegates.
Putnam’s intention to vote for Trump comes amidst turmoil among other Florida Republicans who haven’t been so quick to jump on to Team Trump.
A national movement, #NeverTrump, has had some support among Florida Republicans who say they cannot support Trump on account of his policies and controversial statement.
As Sunshine State News reported earlier this week, Jeb Bush recently said he couldn’t support the party frontrunner at the ballot this year.
In a post on his Facebook page, Bush congratulated Trump on being the party’s nominee, but that’s where the congratulations ended as Bush swiftly segued into professing his allegiance to the #NeverTrump movement.
“Donald Trump has not demonstrated that temperament or strength of character,” Bush wrote. “He has not displayed a respect for the Constitution. And, he is not a consistent conservative. These are all reasons why I cannot support his candidacy.
In November, I will not vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, but I will support principled conservatives at the state and federal levels, just as I have done my entire life. For Republicans, there is no greater priority than ensuring we keep control of both chambers of Congress. I look forward to working hard for great conservatives in the Senate and House in the coming months.”
Several of Trump’s comments while on the campaign trail have sparked controversy, including comments Trump has made about women and Hispanics. Putnam said he was concerned about those comments could affect Trump’s position with some of the party’s key voter groups.
A Quinnipiac poll released Tuesday showed Trump and Clinton running neck-and-neck in Florida, with Clinton taking 43 percent to Trump’s 42 percent.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
