Alexis Calatayud refuses to debate but hides behind millions in special interest Republican attack money

MIAMI, FL — The Miami-Dade Democratic Party today condemned MAGA Republican Alexis Calatayud’s decision to air false and misleading attack ads against Richard Lamondin, the Democratic nominee for Florida State Senate District 38 while refusing to debate Lamondin on the issues that matter most to voters.

The ad, paid for by the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, began airing this morning on local Miami television including ABC’s channel 10, falsely labeling Lamondin a Democratic Socialist.

Richard Lamondin is a Miami business owner who built his company from scratch, created hundreds of jobs, makes payroll every two weeks, and provides full health care benefits to his employees. Unlike career bureaucrat and politician Alexis Calatayud who has never created a job or made payroll in her life, Richard Lamondin has. The Republican Party's decision to try and label him a socialist is not only false — it is an insult to every business owner in South Florida and the families who escaped socialist and communist regimes to build a better life here in Miami.

What makes this attack even more outrageous is what it reveals about Calatayud. Weeks ago she backed out of a scheduled joint appearance with Richard Lamondin on WPLG with Glenna Milberg on This Week In South Florida and has since refused to reschedule.

Alexis Calatayud won't debate Richard Lamondin but the Republican Party, funded by insurance companies and big developers, will spend millions lying about him. That tells you everything about how little respect she has for the voters and her constituents in Senate District 38.

"Republicans like Alexis Calatayud stole millions from Florida's most vulnerable children through the Hope Florida scandal to fund their own political operation. And Alexis Calatayud stood by and said nothing. Now they are spending more corrupt money lying about Richard Lamondin because they are terrified he will win. Her record is indefensible which is why she is too scared to debate. What a disgrace of a senator," said Miami-Dade DEC Chair Laura Kelly.

Richard Lamondin has been clear from day one. He is running to lower costs for Miami families, hold insurance companies accountable, restore local control stripped away by Tallahassee, and break the Republican veto-proof supermajority that has made Florida one of the most unaffordable states in the country. That is not socialism. That is exactly what SD-38 needs.

The Miami-Dade Democratic Party stands firmly behind Richard Lamondin and calls on Senator Calatayud to stop hiding, stop lying, and face the voters of SD-38 directly.

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