Surprise Eileen Higgins ‘withdrawal’ in CD27 raises questions, causes confusion

Surprise Eileen Higgins ‘withdrawal’ in CD27 raises questions, causes confusion
  • Sumo

What a freaking mess.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins allegedly announced late Wednesday — in a statement the Miami Herald said was provided by her campaign manager — that she is no longer running for Congress in District 27. The reason? She “heard” that Sen. Annette Taddeo is switching to that race and she’s getting out of the way.

Taddeo’s camp says nananina. She still believes she will be Florida’s first Latina governor.

Wtf is going on?

Ladra can’t help but think it has something to do with their one common denominator: Campaign consultant Christian Ulvert, who is Higgins’ guru and Taddeo’s longtime partner until just a couple of months ago. After all, he is the one who got the statement — which looks like a text message — to the Miami Herald’s Doug Hanks, who tweeted it:

“In the last day?” In the last day?

Taddeo had still been campaigning on Twitter against Gov. Ron DeSantis as late as Wednesday morning. There was nothing posted after the alleged Higgins announcement. Except her campaign manager Nick Merlino pushing back.

“Because rumors are swirling let me be perfectly clear. Annette Taddeo will be the first Latina Governor in Florida history. Full stop,” Merlino tweeted.

Read related: Annette Taddeo funding lags far behind Charlie Crist, Nikki Fried in guv’s race

Ulvert resigned from Taddeo’s campaign in March. He told Florida Politics that, as senior advisor to the Senate Democratic Caucus, he needed to focus more on “the fight to protect our incumbents and gain ground to have a stronger caucus.” Las malas lenguas say Ulvert wanted Taddeo — who trails both Democrats Charlie Crist and Nikki Fried in Fla guv polls — to switch to the congressional race, where she has better chances against Republican incumbent Maria Elvira Salazar, who is unliked even within her party.

This could be his way of pressuring her.

Key word: Change.

It was strange that nobody was available for further comment or clarification Wednesday. Neither Higgins — who had breathlessly announced her congressional bid only six days earlier — nor Taddeo returned calls. Ulvert texted Ladra about 7 p.m. “Sorry at a dinner so can’t answer.” Then, nada.

Read related: Eileen Higgins keeps Miami-Dade Commission seat vs Renier Diaz DLP

Stranger still: Neither Higgins nor Taddeo addressed it on social media. In fact, Higgins was thanking people on Facebook for their support of her candidacy as late as Monday.

Oh, yeah, she “heard” of Taddeo’s interest in CD27 on Tuesday, apparently.

Jim DeFede from CBS4 also reported that Taddeo had been making calls to float the idea of a musical chair move to supporters. But he didn’t say where he got that information. Maybe it was Ulvert.

It was also just as likely that a whole lot of people urged Higgins to stay on the county commission, where her voice has grown strong and where her absence could really cause a change in dynamics.

The only thing we know for sure as of early Thursday morning is that Miami Commissioner Ken Russell — who Higgins apparently had no problem primarying — was still vying to take on Salazar in November.

10 Responses to "Surprise Eileen Higgins ‘withdrawal’ in CD27 raises questions, causes confusion"

  1. Anyone but that posterchild for political corruption: Ken Russell. Even Maria Elvira is better than him. At least, to my knowledge, she has not stolen the public land on behalf of oligarchs.

  2. Maria Elvira Salazar, like so many Republicans, is afraid to criticize Trump. I don’t respect that at all. We must vote her, Carlos Gimenez, and Mario Díaz-Balart out. The last two voted not to certify the election for President Biden in Arizona and Pennsylvania. Shame!

  3. I hate Trump and the idiot Trump Cult members but Democrats are sure looking weak. And stupid. Democrats must be able to find better candidates, right?

  4. Marco Rubio is horrible. Salazar is horrible. Ken Russell has shown that he would be far worse. Russell easily gives in to pressure. He was “told” to up zone Watson Island. So he voted Yes to allow massive over commercialization of that public land. It could have been a nature park. Russell then voted yes to demolish 131 acres of Melreese Park. We see Russell voting to demolish the Everglades National Park.

  5. Ken Russell? That creep deserves to be buried alive in hot tar. What a massive disappointment!

  6. From A District #5 Voter ,Thanks For Your WORTHLESS SERVICE to #OURCOUN TY !

  7. What’s the scuttlebutt on Salazar not being liked by fellow Republicans? Do tell, Ladra.

  8. In the vacuum of leadership Christian Ulvert may be taking the bull by the horns and giving a little tough love. the Democrats are fundraising for three losing candidates, they to work with at least a theoretical chance of a win and that’s not Taddeo, not Eileen and certainly not Ken. kill the runts give the mother$ milk to the strongest and place them in a winnable (admittedly a long shot) race

  9. Nobody wants to follow the political apprenticeship program anymore. Serve a week in a community council, quit and run for Congress?
    Yes, some have moved up quickly but they came with a 4 star resume, decades in leading and incubating community non profits and serious money, not some one trick pony toy boy or a just hit town tree hugger. One the other side of the coin neither of these politicians understand the concept of dance with the one that brought you, being a strong consistent voice for their base so their quitting may actually be a plus for their communities.

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