DCCC Statement on Kathy Castor’s Decisive Debate Victory Against ‘MAGA Mike’ Beltran in FL-14

“Today, FL-14 voters saw the choice in this race crystal clear: Kathy Castor is a proven, independent fighter who puts Tampa and Hillsborough families first, while ‘MAGA Mike’ Beltran has spent his career putting special interests and an extreme agenda ahead of the people of Florida. While Beltran lies and has nothing to run on but an unpopular agenda of higher costs, corruption, and a billion dollar bail out to insurance companies – Tampa families know Kathy. They trust Kathy. And today, she showed exactly why: she will always put her neighbors ahead of party politics and keep fighting to make life more affordable for the people of FL-14.”

KEY MOMENTS: 

• Kathy Castor said: “Don’t send Mike Beltran to Congress, who said, ‘I’m with the president 100% of the way, 100% of the time.’ That’s been the problem. You need more independent, effective legislators like me, who are willing to stand up to the powerful special interests and never say…’you get a pass on higher costs for our neighbors.’”
• Mike Beltran admitted that, as a self-funder, he is “accountable to almost nobody” at the expense of the hardworking people of FL-14. That tracks with his special interest history of taking tens of thousands of dollars from insurance and utility companies, voting to let those same companies raise costs on Floridians, and bailing them out to the tune of $1 billion.
• He argued, “I vote my conscience.” Those votes include:
  
  • Being one of just six Florida House members to vote against a $711 million affordable housing package.
  • Casting the lone vote in either chamber against Florida’s $717 million “Live Healthy” package, which increased Medicaid reimbursements for dental, nursing, and maternal care.
  • Voting for Florida’s six-week abortion ban, calling it a “compromise” because his preferred policy went even further – banning nearly all abortions with no exeptions for rape or incest and threatening doctors with up to ten years in prison.
• Beltran refused to answer for his comments that “the conflict is over,” despite the war in Iran continuing to cost American families at least $1,200 each and American taxpayers $43.6 billion.
• Kathy outlined how she has stood up for Tampa families to lower the cost of living, expand access to health care, and hold Washington accountable. She also highlighted her historic investments for veterans and $85 million for the MacDill Air Force Base.

Inside Elections, Cook Political Report, and Fox News have all shifted this race in Kathy’s direction to a toss-up race – a clear sign that Florida Republicans’ attempt to gerrymander her out of Congress is backfiring and Kathy is well-positioned to win in November.

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