Democracy for America endorses Aramis Ayala for FL-10
(Vermont) -- Democracy for America (DFA) endorses Aramis Ayala for Congress in Florida's 10th Congressional district for Rep. Val Demings’ seat. While Ayala opted not to run for reelection as the state’s attorney, she seized upon the opportunity to run for Congress while Demings seeks to unseat Marco Rubio in the Senate.
DFA previously endorsed Ayala in her successful and historic bid for state attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida where she became the Sunshine State’s first-ever Black state attorney and the first woman to represent her district. During her time as state attorney, Ayala proved to be a stalwart force against the death penalty; refusing prosecutions seeking the death penalty and fighting against it all the way to the Supreme Court. Although she lost her battle in court, she gained national attention as a fierce advocate against the death penalty.
She pushed other progressive policies by leading on criminal justice reform; creating innovative pre-trial diversion programs; police accountability and oversight reforms; and initiatives to support victims of domestic violence.
“Aramis is politically prepared and personally equipped to fight for Floridians when it comes to tackling the deep-rooted inequities in our society because she has faced them,” said Democracy for America CEO, Yvette Simpson. “From her working-class background where she learned the value of workers’ rights and a living wage, to her near-death experience with an aggressive lymphoma when doctors told her she had less than 24 hours to live. She lived the inequities of the healthcare system and understands that policy decisions can be the difference between life and death for millions of Americans.”
“I'm thrilled to have the endorsement of Democracy For America,” said Ayala. “DFA knows what it means to be a principled fighter for economic equality, racial justice, climate change, affordable housing, and healthcare, and I'm looking forward to joining them on the campaign trail. Together, we can take the bold policy reform I began as Florida's first Black state attorney all the way to Washington.”
DFA has 2,690 members in Florida’s 10th Congressional district, 84,109 members in the state of Florida, and more than one million members nationwide.