Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who is running for the Democrat Party’s nomination to oppose Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis later this year, recently explained that she speaks slowly to Hispanics, which will in turn make them vote for her.
Video of Fried making the claim first surfaced on Jorge Bonilla’s Twitter account. Bonilla, the Director of MRC Latino, edited the original clip of Fried’s statement to include photos of her posing with Hispanics taken from her campaign website.
“I talk slow,” said Fried when asked how she engages with Hispanic voters. She then began laughing.
Fried, who does not speak Spanish, also explained that she relies on translators when engaged in Hispanic outreach.
“I talk slow”, said @NikkiFried to Miami’s @Telemundo51 when asked about how she engages Hispanics in her #FLGOV primary campaign. 😬 pic.twitter.com/iMga5ucvUB
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) February 11, 2022
The video has already been shared by the RNC Research Twitter account that is managed by the Republican National Committee.
Fried has positioned herself as a far left alternative to DeSantis, who is widely expected to secure a second term as governor.
Originally considered a rising star in her party, Fried’s popularity was marred in 2020 and 2021, when she used her position as Agriculture Commissioner to place stickers with her name and face on every gas pump in the state.
The stickers read, “Inspected and approved for accuracy” next to Fried’s headshot, with the text “Nicole ‘Nikki’ Fried, Commissioner” underneath.
DeSantis was quick to mock Fried’s use of taxpayer funds to increase her name recognition in the state, though the media quickly assured voters that the stickers only cost them $5,000.
Regardless, the damage may have been done.
Fried is expected to lose the primary to Rep. Charlie Crist, the former Republican governor who switched parties in 2012 with an endorsement of President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign.
Crist has repeatedly outraised Fried, and polls have regularly showed him ahead by double digits.
