Politics and Current
Monique Worrell, one of two Democratic prosecutors ousted by DeSantis in Florida, gets her old job back
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — One of two Democratic state attorneys in Florida who’re Republicans Governor Ron DeSantis removed from office in what opponents said was a political move and won him his old job back from voters.
In the Orlando area, Democrat Monique Worrell on Tuesday defeated Andrew Bain, the candidate DeSantis replaced Worrell with last 12 months and who ran without party affiliation. In the Tampa area, Andrew Warren, who was ousted by DeSantis in 2022, gave approach to Suzy Lopez, a Republican DeSantis selected to exchange a Democrat.
DeSantis said Worrell didn’t prosecute crimes committed by minors and didn’t seek mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes, putting the general public in her Central Florida district in danger. She disputed his claims as false and politically motivated.
Speaking before fans Tuesday night, Worrell dedicated the win to her father, who died unexpectedly last June. “Before he took his last breath, he told me, ‘Go back to your seat,’” she said.
“I want to thank the voters for standing with me and saying, ‘We don’t believe you, Ron DeSantis,’” Worrell said.
DeSantis removed Warren over his signing of the guarantees that it is going to not bring criminal charges against individuals in search of abortion or gender reassignment services or individuals providing abortion or sex reassignment therapy services, and its policy of not prosecuting certain minor offenses.
“I am proud of the race we ran,” Warren said in an announcement Tuesday night. “The best candidate doesn’t always win, especially when the other side cheats by illegally suspending you and then spending millions of dollars lying about you.”
The governor’s office didn’t immediately reply to an emailed inquiry on Wednesday.