A once and possibly future Democratic presidential hopeful is getting increasingly active in the Sunshine State.
Former Gov. Martin O’Malley, D-Mary., is scheduled to be in South Florida on Monday as he helps out Democratic candidate Javier Fernandez who is running in a special election for an open House seat scheduled on May 1.
Through his Win Back Your State PAC, O’Malley went to bat for Fernandez on Friday, calling on Democrats to support the candidate.
“Javier Fernandez is a proven leader who cares so deeply about his community. His public and private sector experience are going to make him an outstanding Florida state representative. That's why I'm going to Miami to campaign for him on Monday,” O’Malley emailed supporters.
“Javier has a tough race on his hands, and his special election on May 1st is fast approaching,” O’Malley added. “But we have a real opportunity to make sure this seat goes blue and continue chipping away at the Republicans' majority in the state House....With your help, we can win back Florida, and move our country forward.”
Rising up from local politics, including serving as mayor of Baltimore, O’Malley was elected as Maryland’s 61st governor in 2006. After two terms in Annapolis, O’Malley set his eyes on the Democratic presidential nomination but he did not make much of an impression as he was lost in Hillary Clinton’s and Bernie Sanders’ shadows. After taking .6 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucus, O’Malley dropped out of the race.
Despite that poor showing, O’Malley has opened the door to another presidential bid. Last week, O’Malley made his third trip of the year to New Hampshire, the home of the first presidential primary which ramped up the 2020 talk.
Florida has seen a lot of O’Malley in recent months. Last summer, O’Malley took to the stump to help Annette Taddeo flip a state Senate seat. Last fall, the former presidential hopeful also campaigned for St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman’s successful effort to win a second term. Earlier this year, O’Malley helped Democrat Margaret Good flip a state House seat in a special election held in Sarasota County.
