EMILY’s List endorsed former Florida gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink (D) on Thursday in the race for the seat left vacant after the death of Rep. C.W. Bill Young’s (R-FL).
The endorsement came shortly after Sink jumped into the race for Young’s seat and follows EMILY’s List reportedly removing Jessica Ehrlich, also running for the seat, from its online list of favored candidates, according to Roll Call on Wednesday. That online list is often a precursor to an endorsement.
“Alex Sink has an outstanding record of public service and business leadership, and she’ll be ready to use her experience to fight for Florida in Congress from the day she takes office,” EMILY’s List president Stephanie Schriock said in a statement.
Democrats were quick to hail Sink’s announcement in what seemed like a tacit move to push Ehrlich out of the race. Shortly after she announced Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Rep. Steve Israel (NY) said praised Sink and highlighted her business background and position as Florida’s former chief financial officer.
“As a business leader and Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Alex Sink has shown she’s a problem solver with a record of working with Democrats and Republicans to get results, grow our economy and help businesses create jobs – exactly the values and skills which are so missing from the dysfunctional Congress in Washington,” Israel said in a statement following her entrance into the race.
Sink’s entrance into the race puts into question whether there will be a prolonged primary for the Democratic nomination. As of now, Ehrlich is still running for the seat.
