Another past Primary rival is now backing Democrat Richard Lamondin’s Senate District 38 bid.
One day after announcing a nod from former TV news anchor Eliott Rodriguez, whom he briefly competed against in a since-dropped congressional bid, Lamondin announced an endorsement from former federal prosecutor Robin Peguero, who is still running against Rodriguez.
Both want to see Lamondin unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Alexis Calatayud in November.
“Richard Lamondin is the real deal,” Peguero said.
“He built a company from scratch, created hundreds of jobs, and has been fighting for this community long before it was the popular thing to do. That kind of commitment means something. It is exactly the leadership SD 38 needs in Tallahassee, and I am proud to stand behind his campaign.”
Lamondin, the co-founder and CEO of environmental services firm ecofi, welcomed the endorsement as part of a broader Democratic alignment this election cycle.
“Robin understands what is at stake this November, not just in SD 38 but up and down the ballot across South Florida,” Lamondin said. “His support is not just about me or this race. It is about what we can accomplish together when Democrats unite. That is exactly what we are doing and I am honored to have his backing.”
In April, Lamondin pivoted from running for Florida’s 27th Congressional District to SD 38. The two districts overlap substantially, including all or parts of Coral Gables, Cutler Bay, Key Biscayne, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, South Miami, Coconut Grove in Miami and the unincorporated Kendall and Richmond Heights neighborhoods.
Senate Victory, the chamber’s Democratic campaign arm, has designated SD 38 a top priority target. Flipping the seat would chip away at the Republican veto-proof supermajority in the Legislature.
Peguero and Rodriguez’s endorsements this week add to a growing roster of Lamondin backers, including Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman, Senate Democratic Leader-designate Tracie Davis and future Senate Democratic Leader Shevrin Jones.
Others backing Lamondin include state Sens. Kristen Arrington, Mack Bernard, LaVon Bracy Davis and Tina Polsky; former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson; former Pinecrest Mayor and state Rep. Cindy Lerner; former Miami Beach Commissioner and state Rep. David Richardson; former Mayors Mike Davey of Key Biscayne, Manny Diaz of Miami and Phil Stoddard of South Miami; former Palmetto Bay Vice Mayor Leanne Tellam; former Miami Commissioner Ken Russell; Miami Beach Commissioners Tanya Katzoff Bhatt and Monica Matteo-Salinas; and local historian-activist Marvin Dunn, who made national news last year for fighting the giveaway of Miami Dade College land for a planned Donald Trump library.
Calatayud has represented SD 38 since 2022.
Democrat Henly Dixon and independent Jeffrey Solomon are also in the race.
The Primary is Aug. 18, followed by the General Election on Nov. 3.
