Amid allegations of spoiler candidate scheme, Florida Democrats call for GOP state senator to resign

[TomCADem]

Source: MSN

MIAMI — Florida Democrats on Friday called for Republican state Sen. Ileana Garcia’s resignation and for a special election to be held in Miami-Dade Senate District 37, a day after state prosecutors accused a Miami GOP operative of planting a no-party candidate to sway the outcome of the race in November.

Garcia’s 2020 victory strengthened Senate Republicans’ decadeslong control of the Florida Senate. But Democrats are calling into question the integrity of the election after a 25-page arrest affidavit laid bare an alleged scheme by former Republican state Sen. Frank Artiles that involved him paying an auto-parts dealer more than $40,000 to run and influence the race.

The sham candidate, Alexis “Alex” Rodriguez, shared the same surname as the incumbent, Democrat José Javier Rodríguez. The point of his candidacy, investigators said, was to “confuse voters and siphon votes from the incumbent.” Garcia won by 32 votes out of 215,000 ballots cast. Alex Rodriguez received more than 6,000 votes.

“In the interest of fairness and the sanctity of our democratic electoral process, we call upon Senator Garcia to resign immediately,” Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz said during a press conference Friday morning. “My late father would have never allowed me to accept any benefit that was clearly obtained through fraudulent means. He also taught me that where there is smoke, there is usually fire.”

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/amid-allegations-of-spoiler-candidate-scheme-florida-democrats-call-for-gop-state-senator-to-resign/ar-BB1eLvTn?li=BBnb7Kz

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Fraud is the word

Democrats need to hit that horn loud and often wherever they see it. Fraud is something Americans understand.

[COL Mustard]

2. And Better Informed Voters

Who actually know what and who they're voting for!

[riversedge]

3. #1

[RandiFan1290]

4. Spoiler candidate?

Like Charlie Crist in 2010?

[TomCADem]

5. Was there someone else named "Crist" who ran?

I am not familiar with that race. If someone with the same last name as a major candidate was paid to run simply for the purpose of creating name confusion, then that is wrong.