President Donald Trump could learn a thing or two from former State Rep. Cindy Polo about conceding a race with grace and style.
The freshman, Colombian-American legislator lost her re-election Tuesday to Broward insurance lawyer and former Miramar Planning and Zoning Board member Tom Fabricio, getting only 37% of the vote to his 63%. But in a tweet posted Friday, she not only hinted she’d stay involved — and could run again — but also urged her supporters to back her opponent.
This, despite the attacks on her from the first day she was elected in 2018 and the socialist smear she was painted with this year. She must have been very threatening to the GOP with the amount of effort and money they put against her. Even after she lost, Polo got tweets from people like Republican consultant Brett Doster calling her “the Florida legislature’s Socialist Caucus Leader” and State Rep. Anthony Sabatini who said “Bye socialist. You won’t be missed.”
Such shameful behavior from lying bullies.
On the other hand, Polo’s own reaction to her defeat was classy and a perfect example of why this is such a loss for District 103 and all of Florida:
“Two years ago, I gave my first speech and urged colleagues to serve as if they only had one term. Because you all deserve leaders that fight for you, because it’s the right and necessary thing to do. Reelection should never be the motivation. Contributions shouldn’t be the driving force.
We weren’t supposed to flip this seat in ’18. My team and I knew they’d come harder at us. So we left it all on the field every day. I poured my heart out in the Chamber for immigrants, women, and our children. I stayed quiet when necessary but went hard when I needed to.
These two years have not been easy. Not personally, professionally, nor financially. I have so much more to say about this process and the players in it. But for now, I want to say thank you to the volunteers, colleagues and allies that showed up. Thank you to my team for…everything.
My opponent worked hard. Tom Fabricio deserves time and space to serve my community. He deserves the chance to be his own person and a champion for his district, my district. Two years was not enough to change decades worth of neglect. He’s in the majority. He has friends. Apparently, the things needed to pass legislation. He deserves respect from all town and city officials. He should be given the chance to meet with each of them so that he can be “effective.” He deserves to be treated differently than I was.
To those being told it’s not your time or that you don’t belong or that you’re not built for this, remember that #GirlFromHialeah who cried, cursed and called out the bullshit for two years. Don’t you dare believe the haters. Don’t you dare quit. People need you and your voice.
‘Pa’lante’ was not just a slogan. It means we move forward no matter what. So let’s keep going. Let’s keep demanding better from our elected officials. Let’s give real people a chance to serve. And when they get there, let’s protect them. We will be back, but for now, we rest.”
— Cindy Polo on Twitter
State Rep. Cindy Polo’s classy exit, concession tweet should be an example added by Ladra on
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