State Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam picked up the support of Florida’s second-highest elected official Monday. Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera announced he is endorsing Putnam’s campaign for governor.
“As the Lieutenant Governor of Florida, I have and continue to work with Adam Putnam and the rest of our State Cabinet on a regular basis,” Lopez-Cantera said. “Without a doubt, there is no candidate seeking the office that is more qualified to be the next Governor of Florida than Adam Putnam.”
“I’m honored to have the support of Lieutenant Governor Carlos López-Cantera,” Putnam said. “He has worked tirelessly to lead our state alongside Governor Rick Scott, rebuilding our economy and delivering jobs to Floridians.”
Lopez-Cantera went on to take a political shot at Putnam’s opponent, U.S. Rep.Ron DeSantis, in the race for the Republican nomination for governor.
“Adam is a family man, a strong defender of the 2nd Amendment and the only candidate in this race supported by Florida law enforcement. Adam understands Florida because he lives in Florida. He gets the unique issues facing our state. While other candidates in this race are too busy with their own agenda,” Lopez-Cantera said in making his endorsement. “Adam is busy with Florida’s Agenda. Our next Governor needs to know the details of Florida better than a they know the details of TV studios in the nation’s swamp.”
Lopez-Cantera’s endorsement of Putnam might not have the same impact on the race as President Donald Trump’s endorsement of DeSantis had back in June, when Trump announced his “full endorsement” of DeSantis.
Since then, the momentum in the race has appeared to shift to DeSantis, who before Trump’s endorsement, was trailing by double-digit margins. Since Trump’s announcement, DeSantis has flipped the polls and has taken on front-runner status.
Putnam also picked up the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart in South Florida last week. “Our cause has never had a better friend than this man,” Congressman Diaz-Balart said of Putnam.