Dear Friend,
May the 4th be with you.
For fellow Star Wars fans, today is a celebration of courage, resistance, and hope in the face of overwhelming odds. But it also feels a little closer to home than fiction, because the struggle between progress and extremism is very real here in Florida.
Across our state, we are seeing coordinated efforts out of Tallahassee to roll back freedoms, divide communities, and distract from the issues that actually matter in people’s lives. But just like in the stories we love, the outcome is never predetermined. It is shaped by people who choose to step forward.
That’s why I’ve spent my time in the legislature fighting for our communities, and why I’m continuing that fight now as I run for Mayor of Orlando. Because Orlando deserves leadership that is focused on affordability, housing, public safety, environmental protection, and ensuring every neighborhood has a real shot at opportunity.
As I prepare to leave the legislature, my commitment is simple: we don’t just defend what we’ve built—we expand it. That means supporting strong candidates who can win tough races, grow our movement, and keep Florida from slipping further into extremism.
Hope is not a slogan. It’s a strategy. It’s organizing. It’s showing up. It’s building power locally, in cities like Orlando, and across the state.
So whether you’re celebrating with a marathon of Star Wars films or just enjoying the day, I hope you’ll remember this: the Force has always belonged to the people who refuse to give up on each other. And we truly have friends everywhere.
Let’s keep building the Florida—and the Orlando—we know is possible.
With gratitude,
