Champ and Chump of the Week – 6/21/20: Eric Johnson and Jake Bergmann

by Jordan Kirkland | Jun 21, 2020

At the end of every week, we praise a political playmaker, “swipe left” on the week’s biggest political loser, and explain what it all means for Florida’s political arena.

CHAMP: Consultant Eric Johnson

Champ of the Week

One of Florida’s foremost Democrat political consultants was fired this week by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried for doing his job: giving his client the best political advice available, regardless of what that client wants to hear.

In this case, Johnson got jettisoned by Fried because she didn’t appreciate hearing that the antics and official interference of her fiance, Jake Bergmann, had turned him into a political liability.

Johnson is widely respected on both sides of the political aisle as one of those rare political breeds who doesn’t sugarcoat the facts and stands up for what he believes is right – despite the obvious financial risks.

For that reason, Johnson is The Capitolist’s Champ of the Week.

CHUMP: Jake Bergmann

Champ of the Week

Fried’s boyfriend and full-time “Santa Clause” made waves this week after our Champ of the Week blew the whistle on Bergmann’s relationship with Florida’s top Democrat, alleging that the “Florida Man” was “abusive” during a weekend trip at a Fort Lauderdale resort.

The news of the story broke on Thursday, with Politico shedding light on the infighting tearing apart Fried’s “inner circle.”

According to the article, Fried dismissed three top aides just before midnight after her fiancé was escorted off the property following a verbal altercation.

Those fired, as well as Johnson — who told Politico he was resigning from Fried’s political committee — boldly came forward, citing that Fried and Bergmann’s relationship had been on thin ice for some time, with the marijuana entrepreneur continuing to halt Fried’s political potential.

“Nikki Fried has unlimited potential for what she can do, personally and as a politician,” Johnson told Politico. “I think what has happened with her in this relationship is causing her to not be able to function, and eventually it could get her very, very hurt. On many occasions, she has described to me and other senior staff her relationship as mentally abusive, and on Saturday she called it physically abusive.”

“I simply can’t stand by and watch it happen,” he continued.

While Fried denied that Bergmann was abusive, a video and subsequent police report prove there is more to this story than the statewide Democrat is disclosing.