FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — With just weeks to go before Florida voters choose the Republican and Democratic nominees for governor, the Democratic field has gained another candidate.
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State Rep. Dotie Joseph of North Miami has entered the race, saying she believes she’s the right person to lead the state.
Appearing on “This Week in South Florida” with Glenna Milberg, Joseph said voters are looking beyond party labels.
“I think people are starting to see it’s not about left versus right, Republican versus Democrat, but it’s really about issues that impact people,” Joseph said.
Joseph said she decided to run after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings dropped out of the race following a prostate cancer diagnosis.
“When Mayor Demings dropped out of the race, several of us were disappointed. And the more I learned about our current option, the more I felt like we needed an additional option,” she said.
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Joseph is challenging Democratic frontrunner David Jolly, a former Republican who has positioned himself as a moderate who can work with both sides of the aisle.
While acknowledging her progressive background, Joseph said she has also worked across party lines.
“Yes, I do champion progressive issues, and I also am a very pragmatic Democrat who’s been able to work across the aisle to get quite a bit done in Tallahassee,” she said.
Joseph was born in Haiti and moved to Florida in 1982. A former government and civil rights attorney, she has represented Florida’s 108th House District since 2018. The district primarily includes North Miami, Miami Shores and El Portal.
On the Republican side, several candidates continue to challenge frontrunner Byron Donalds in the race to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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The primary election is Aug. 18, and the general election is Nov. 3.
