In the race to become the next mayor of Miami-Dade, Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava is accumulating endorsements like nobody’s business.
Even before round 1 on Aug. 18, it seemed like Levine Cava was in a war with former Mayor Alex Penelas over how many endorsements each could get. She has almost every progressive group (if not every) as well as most if not all former and current Democrat state legislators and many mayors. On Monday, after she got into the runoff last week with Commissioner Esteban Bovo, she announced the endorsement of the South Florida AFL-CIO.
On Tuesday, she announced the crown jewel of her endorsements so far — the mysterious nod that the 
campaign had referred to a day earlier: Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Nicole “Nikky” Fried, a 305 girl gone good and the only Democrat in Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ cabinet.
“Daniella has proven for years that she will fight for values that are central to our communities,” Fried said in a Zoom virtual press conference.
“Through her work in many nonprofits and as a County Commissioner, Daniella has made South Florida a focal point for innovation and economic development. By engaging small businesses, Miami-Dade’s robust agricultural industry, and community leaders in one conversation, Daniella has fueled an unparalleled coalition that is ready to rebuild — and reimagine — Miami-Dade in this new era. I am proud to endorse her as Miami-Dade’s next Mayor.”
Said Levine Cava: “I look forward to joining forces with her in building new partnerships in Tallahassee that can help us solve our greatest challenges and provide the necessary relief that our residents desperately need.
“We have partnered already on innovation,” she added. “We have huge opportunities to move forward to really lift up our agricultural community because we know it’s a treasure and it needs supporting.”
Fried is the state’s highest ranking Dem so who was she going to back? Bovo? Also, Ladra is not sure this endorsement brings DLC any new voters. She already had Dems and environmentalists and women.
Read related: Mystery endorsement for Daniella Levine Cava won’t be mayoral castaway
Fried is also the first woman elected to the position of Agriculture Commissioner in Florida. That likely made the nod more special to DLC, who wants to be the first woman elected county mayor. “Women and families across our state are better off today because of her advocacy and relentless fight to improving the lives of all Floridians” she said of Fried.
Almost immediately after the announcement, Fried started to fund raise for DLC in an email that was also a side jab to DeSantis, whose response to COVID-19 has been slow and criticized.
“As communities across our state grapple with a pandemic that has devastated our economy and taken thousands of lives, we need to elect leaders who will listen to science and protect our most vulnerable,” Fried said.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried backs Daniella Levine Cava for mayor added by Ladra on
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