ORLANDO, Fla. – Today, State Representative Democratic nominee Daisy Morales (D-District 48, Orange County) issued the following statement in honor of Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2020:
“This Labor Day, we celebrate and honor the American labor movement and the millions of hard-working men and women who stood and fought for workers’ rights. Through organizing and bargaining, labor unions have been the driving force of change for better fair wages and working conditions. We owe a great debt to these first champions of workers’ rights.
“The first responder, the truck driver, the farmer, the school teacher, the waitress, the social worker, airport and hospitality workers, along with the everyday worker impacted by COVID-19 deserve recognition on Labor Day.”
Media Contact: DaisyForFlorida@gmail.com | Campaign Website: DaisyForFlorida.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (August 31, 2020) – The Daisy Morales campaign announced today that both Florida House Democratic Caucus co-leaders, Representatives Bobby DuBose (D-District 94, Fort Lauderdale) and Evan Jenne (D-District 99, Dania Beach), have endorsed Puerto Rican State Representative nominee Daisy Morales for Florida House District 48.
“Daisy Morales is a dynamic combination of generosity and advocacy. She doesn’t hesitate to find out what’s needed and get things done,” Representative and Co-Leader Bobby DuBose expressed in a written statement. “She’s deeply entrenched in the community as a thirty-year Orange County resident and has been an environmental champion for the past six years as an elected Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor. I look forward to working with her on improving our education system, making healthcare and housing more affordable, and creating a better future for Floridians. That’s why I’m endorsing her for Florida House District 48.”
Representative and Co-Leader Evan Jenne said in a written statement: “I’m proud to endorse Democratic nominee Daisy Morales for Florida House District 48 because of her tireless advocacy. She’s no stranger to Tallahassee, having traveled there several times to push for aid for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, fight for affordable housing, and be a voice for Florida’s agriculture industry, Florida’s second largest industry. Her leadership and her passion for people are exactly what’s needed in Tallahassee.”
“I’m honored to receive the endorsements, ideas, and activism from the top Florida House Democratic leaders in my campaign to replace Representative Amy Mercado (D-District 48, Orlando) who is running for Orange County Property Appraiser,” said Morales, who is currently serving as an elected Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor. “Co-Leaders Jenne and DuBose have been fighting for causes near and dear to me and to District 48: education, public safety, and growing the economy. I’ve been in dialogue with them and other lawmakers several times at the State Capitol while advocating for the people. District 48 is vast and I’m ready to work alongside them in Tallahassee to make significant strides in every community.”
State House District 48 covers part of Orange County, with a heavy-Hispanic population, and a large Puerto Rican community. Democrats have a 30 percent advantage over Republicans in registered voters. The district is considered a safe Democratic Puerto Rican-held seat since 2012.
Morales defeated four men to win the August primary election with 40 percent of the votes. During the primary, Representatives John Cortes (D-District 43, Kissimmee) and Bruce Antone(D-District 46, Orlando) also endorsed her for Florida House District 48.
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Media Contact: DaisyForFlorida@gmail.com | Campaign Website: DaisyForFlorida.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (August 27, 2020) – State Representative Nominee Daisy Morales (D-District 48, Orlando) released the following statement on Women’s Equality Day, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment:
“As we reflect on one hundred years since American women were granted the right to vote through the ratification of the 19th amendment, we must honor the legacy of those who paved the way for not only a woman’s voice in our democracy, but a woman’s role in leading it.
“While this is a landmark to celebrate, we also know that the 19th Amendment only gave some women, white women, the right to vote. African American women like Mary Church Terrell, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, and so many women whose names we may not know, played critical roles in the suffrage movement and often don’t get the recognition they deserve. Their efforts were not realized until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, when all women of color finally received the right to vote.
“We can be proud of the fact that in the Florida Legislature we are seeing a growing number of women elected to state office. And in spite of racism and sexism, women of color are continuing to lead, especially a black woman as the Vice Presidential nominee.
“For this year’s Women’s Equality Day, we must recommit ourselves to empowering women, listening to women, and electing women.
“With women continuing to rise, America is a better place.”
Media Contact: DaisyForFlorida@gmail.com | Campaign Website: DaisyForFlorida.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (August 12, 2020) – The Daisy Morales campaign has released the following statement from Daisy Morales, candidate for Florida House District 48, on former Vice President Joe Biden selecting Senator Kamala Harris:
“Congratulations to Senator Kamala Harris for being named as former Vice President Joe Biden’s pick for VP. This historic moment shattered the glass ceiling and even a few walls. Not only is Senator Harris one of only a handful of women to ever be at the top of a major party nominee ticket, but she’s the first African American, Caribbean American (Jamaican heritage) and South Asian American (Indian heritage) to ever do it. Senator Harris’s sharp, relentless pursuit of the truth and accountability inspired Biden, her former opponent, to pick her.
“Biden committed to choosing a woman as his running mate, and it only makes sense he chose Senator Harris. She embodies the poise, confidence, experience, passion and heart for service that we as women carry and share with the world every single day.
“The response surrounding Senator Harris’s pick is also a powerful lesson on how important it is for women to support each other. Senator Amy Clobuchar, former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, our Florida Congresswoman Val Demings, and many other women in key leadership roles across the country have rallied around Senator Harris in this historic moment, raising their voices in solidarity with hers to inspire all of us as Americans to make ours heard at the ballot box. Women are an unstoppable force for positive change when we rally together, and there’s no better time than now for us to make change. This is not the time for petty competition or silent blocking or sabotage, but to unify like never before.
“I look forward to helping the Biden-Harris campaign to win the Puerto Rican vote in Florida.”
Media Contact: DaisyForFlorida@gmail.com | Campaign Website: DaisyForFlorida.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 22, 2020) – In response to the Orlando Sentinel’s July 21, 2020 endorsement article, Florida State Representative House District 48 candidate Daisy Morales is setting the record straight and calling out the Orlando Sentinel to be fully transparent and stop misinforming readers.
The article states in relevant part:
“The race’s fifth candidate, Daisy Morales, declined our interview invitation, possibly because she expected we would ask why she didn’t show up for almost a year for Soil & Water Conservation District meetings, a post she was first elected to in 2014. Morales doesn’t deserve serious consideration by voters.”
Morales slammed the Orlando Sentinel’s claims. “The voters of District 48 have their own minds and will consider all candidates, as they should, so that line about me not deserving serious consideration is a baseless attempt to sway the election,” said Morales.
“As for the Orlando Sentinel implying that I possibly declined the interview because of the questions they would want to ask me, that’s a dead point for three reasons. One, the Orlando Sentinel and Florida National News already covered my attendance in previous articles. That allegation is misleading and had nothing to do with why I didn’t attend. Two, I did a virtual interview with El Sentinel on July 13, 2020—just two days before the Orlando Sentinel’s interview—so I clearly have nothing to hide. Three, it’s the candidate’s prerogative to not participate, but more importantly, I had a scheduling conflict on the day of the interview and their editorial team was aware of that, offered me two alternate days, and we confirmed one, but the interview never happened.”
As the Orlando Sentinel coordinated a virtual interview with the five Democratic candidates for Florida House District 48, Orlando Sentinel’s Barbara Jay frequently communicated with Morales via email to confirm her attendance for the proposed July 15 date. Morales clearly indicated early on that she wasn’t available to participate on that date. Jay, however, reached back out to offer two alternate dates, Tuesday, July 14 and Thursday, July 16, and Morales agreed to July 16, which Jay apologetically confirmed. “I regret we had so many changes that week that it moved to Wednesday from so many other days,” Jay wrote in a July 13 email [See attached screen captures].
“I had no problem sharing the reason why I’m running for House District 48 in Spanish and looked forward to doing it in English,” said Morales.
“The public deserves to have a news outlet that is accurate, transparent and trustworthy. The accusation that I declined the interview because of what the Orlando Sentinel might ask me is inaccurate and the article needs to be corrected to reflect the facts.”
Media Contact: DaisyForFlorida@gmail.com | Campaign Website: DaisyForFlorida.com
ORLANDO, Fla. – Supervisor Daisy Morales‘ campaign announces endorsement from Asian American community leader and Florida House District 43 candidate Andrew Jeng in her primary race for State Representative.
Jeng is a global business leader who has served as the president of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs of Central Florida, Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, and Kiwanis Club of Kissimmee. Jeng is also a former police lieutenant of the Taiwan National Police Agency and a current member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Congressman Darren Soto also recently recognized Jeng in the Congressional Record as a distinguished community leader on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I’m endorsing Supervisor Daisy Morales for Florida House District 48 because of her ongoing track record of being a champion for diversity and inclusion for communities of color, low-income families, seniors and the special needs community,” said Andrew Jeng.
“Daisy has proven time after time that she is a true public servant for all communities, including the Asian-American community. She is a leader we trust to be our voice in Tallahassee. We know her and she knows our community.
“She’s in the trenches building trust and acceptance by making sure no community is left behind. I am proud to see Daisy run as the diversity and inclusion candidate.
“Democratic Presidential candidate Andrew Yang and members of the Asian-American community were invited as special guests by Supervisor Morales to witness Orange County’s first African-American mayor, Jerry Demings, administer her oath of office for re-election in 2018. Daisy was the first elected official to receive this historic honor by our new mayor.
“Daisy made sure our community had a seat at the table, and she’ll do even more for the people of District 48 and our state as the next State Representative, ” Jeng stated.
“It’s an honor beyond measure to receive the endorsement from such a distinguished community leader like Andrew Jeng,” said Supervisor Daisy Morales. “Families in Orange and Osceola counties trust Andrew to fight for them every day as a community leader, and I am honored to have his trust, his ideas, and his participation as we build this bottom-up campaign to make sweeping change in Tallahassee and real progress in Florida.”
Media Contact: DaisyForFlorida@gmail.com | Campaign Website: DaisyForFlorida.com
ORLANDO, Fla. – Supervisor Daisy Morales campaign picked up another State Representative’s endorsement in her primary race for Florida State Representative of House District 48: State Representative Bruce Antone, who represents House District 46.
Representative Antone is a veteran state lawmaker who served as the Democratic Ranking Member of the House’s Education Committee and the Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. He also served as the chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus.
“I am proud to endorse Daisy Morales for the Florida House of Representatives, and I’m confident that she will be an effective leader on behalf of the people of District 48,” said Representative Antone. “I’ve worked closely with Daisy on important issues in Orange County. She has been active in Tallahassee advocating for affordable housing and the environment.
“Daisy will work hard to improve public safety, strengthen our education system, and fight for affordable healthcare. I urge the people of Orange County to send Daisy to the Florida House so that she can defend Florida values and secure an even brighter future for our great state.”
“I’m honored to earn the endorsement of Representative Antone, a true champion for public education in the State House,” said Supervisor Morales. “Working closely with the veteran lawmaker has certainly been rewarding for me and for the people we serve in Orange County,” she added.
“Families across District 48 and our great state are still suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and now, more than ever, they deserve a common sense leader with over 30 years in public service working for them in Tallahassee,” stated Morales.
Morales, a two-term supervisor with the Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District (term in office expires November 4, 2020), has racked up several endorsements in her bid to succeed State Representative Amy Mercado, including from State Representative John Cortes, Osceola County Clerk of Courts Armando Ramirez and Ocoee City Commissioner George Oliver, III.
Morales has also scored endorsement from The X-Factor USA series contestant and international singer Lillie Nicole McCloud.
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 9, 2020) – Today, Supervisor Daisy Morales’s campaign for State Representative of House District 48 announced the endorsement of the first Hispanic Constitutional officer in Osceola County, Osceola County Clerk of the Circuit Courts Armando Ramirez.
“Daisy is a special gift when it comes to community service,” said Osceola County Clerk of Courts Armando Ramirez. “She understands the importance of working with elected officials in Orange County and statewide to get things done.
“Daisy is known for being everywhere and someone the voters can count on. She has been a fierce educator and defender of our environment in her role as an elected Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor.
“I pray for Daisy and her leadership as the next State Representative of House District 48, and dedicate Deuteronomy 16:20 to her as she presses forward: ‘You must pursue justice…..’
“It’s an honor to have the endorsement of Osceola County Clerk of the Circuit Courts Armando Ramirez,” Morales expressed. “I know Armando and like him, I’m proud of our Puerto Rican heritage and am concerned about the people in Puerto Rico. This champion and his team fought years to get a single-member district election system for Osceola County School Board members.”
To learn more about Supervisor Daisy Morales and her campaign for State Representative of House District 48, visit www.daisyforflorida.com Additionally, consider supporting the Daisy for State Representative Diversity and Inclusion movement in order to move Florida forward by donating $5, $10, or $20. The campaign’s initial goal is to raise $50,000, but needs much more to ensure victory.
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Media Contact: Daisy Morales for State Representative | Email Address: daisyforflorida@gmail.com | Website: daisyforflorida.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 8, 2020) – State Representative HD 48 candidate Supervisor Daisy Morales has qualified for the August 18th primary election ballot, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
While Morales was the only elected official candidate to enter the race just three weeks ago, she was the first candidate to meet Florida’s requirements to earn a spot on the ballot.
“Our campaign is humbled by the outpouring of support from across Orange County, specially in House District 48. The hard work of my family, friends, and our amazing team of volunteers has enabled me to qualify for the primary election ballot to compete for the Democratic nomination, Supervisor Daisy Morales. “I’m the only candidate in this race with a proven track record of defeating my opponents to win back-to-back countywide elections. In 2018, over 256,000 voters or 64% of the total votes trust me to be their elected leader for a second four-year term.
I currently represent the residents of House District 48 at the county level, as their elected Supervisor on the Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. They know me and know them. I look forward to representing them in Tallahassee as the next State Representative.
My campaign earned endorsements from former Democratic Deputy Whip and State Representative John Cortes , City of Ocoee Commissioner George Oliver, III and Music Artist Lillie Nicole McCloud.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) – Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Daisy Morales is resigning from her countywide seat two years early in order to meet the Resign-To-Run Law deadline Friday, May 29.
Supervisor Morales is officially running for Florida State Representative of House District 48 seat held by Representative Amy Mercado, who’s seeking to unseat incumbent Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh.
“On Wednesday, May 27, I officially submitted my resignation letter from the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors to Governor Ron DeSantis, effective November 4, 2020,” she said in a press release.
For the last six years, Supervisor Morales has made a name for herself in county politics and community advocacy. She is known for being highly visible at public events, hosting environmental tours for low-income children and communities of color, obtaining federal funding for constituents, erecting conservation district signs at Orange-Osceola and Orange-Seminole county lines, and developing strong working relationships with Orange County Commissioners and other elected officials across the state.
Florida House District 48 quickly became a crowded race, now boasting seven candidates–six Democrats and most recently one Republican, Jesus Martinez. The other five Democrats are Nelson Pena, Julio L. Rocha, Alex Taylor, Anthony Tsonis, and Samuel Vilchez Santiago, who was recently endorsed by State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith.
At the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Board, Seats 1,2,3 and 5 are open for election. A special election will be held to fill the remaining term of Morales’ seat (Seat 2). It appears none of the Supervisors up for re-election have yet filed to run for re-election.
