The South Florida AFL-CIO has endorsed former State Representative Joe Saunders for House District 106.

The South Florida AFL-CIO on Wednesday formally endorsed former State Representative Joe Saunders for House District 106

South Florida AFL-CIO operates as an advocacy organization consisting of 53 affiliated unions, representing 239,000 local workers and their families.

“The members of the South Florida AFL-CIO are proud to endorse Joe Saunders for State Representative in House District 106,” says Jeffrey Mitchell, President of the South Florida AFL-CIO. “Joe is a dedicated advocate for working people and a strong supporter of policies to ensure workers in our state receive the support, fair pay, and benefits they deserve.”

Since launching his campaign in May, Saunders received endorsements from leaders throughout House District 106, five current and former members of Congress, nine state legislators, and former Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. Additionally, he has received support from Senate and House Democratic leadership, two former Florida Cabinet members, several former lawmakers who have served the district, the Florida Leadership Council, the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, SEIU Florida, and SAVE Action PAC.

Saunders became the first LGBTQ state lawmaker when he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012. He has also served as a senior leader at Equality Florida, a professor at FIU, a state lawmaker, and a leader in the Floridians for Reproductive Freedom coalition.

“I’m so proud to have earned the endorsement from the hardworking members of the South Florida AFL-CIO,” said Saunders. “Throughout my career, I have championed the rights of workers because they are the backbone of our community. When elected, I will continue to stand up for working families in HD 106 and beyond, ensuring they receive the support, protection, and opportunities they deserve.”

Amid the new endorsement, Saunders’ campaign is dealing with related legal concerns after it filed a lawsuit against Maureen Saunders Scott last month, alleging she is acting as a “ghost candidate” intended to siphon votes in the upcoming election.

The lawsuit, lodged in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, accuses Saunders Scott of using the nickname “Moe Saunders” on the ballot to confuse voters and claims she misrepresented her residency. The filing further contends that Saunders Scott is a registered voter in St. Johns County, which is more than 300 miles away from the district she aims to represent and falsely declared her domicile in Miami-Dade County to meet candidacy requirements.

“This is a clear violation of Florida law, and the facts speak for themselves: Maureen Saunders Scott is attempting to deceive, mislead and confuse voters supporting Joe Saunders by using a false nickname on the ballot,” said attorney Kendall Coffey, Esq., counsel for the Saunders campaign. “She has not acted in good faith or with honest purpose, and has therefore failed to properly qualify as a candidate. In defense of our democracy, this kind of conduct must not be allowed and ‘Moe Saunders’ must not appear on the ballot in November.”

The lawsuit seeks an expedited judicial review to prevent Saunders Scott from appearing on the ballot ahead of the primary elections on Aug. 20 and the general elections on Nov. 5.