A simple phrase that brought joy, optimism and hope to thousands of Floridians across our state. Somewhere along this journey, “Hey Florida” became more than a greeting.

It became a movement because of you.

On Tuesday night, 189,234 Floridians from all 67 counties made their voices heard. A mathematics teacher from Broward County, with less than $100,000 in contributions and without the machinery of a traditional statewide campaign, reached people from Pensacola all the way to Key West.

Our story has never belonged to one kind of person or one path here. It lives in families whose roots in this state stretch back generations and in families whose journeys carried them here from Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Central America, other parts of the United States, and places far beyond. But this is our home, and we all are Floridians.

Along this journey, I have seen the beauty of our state, the pain of our people, and the promise of our future. And despite everything we are told about how divided we are, I heard so many of the same hopes everywhere I went. We want our work to mean something. We want to know our neighbor has enough to eat. We want our parents, grandparents, aunties and abuelas to grow older with dignity and security. We want our children educated in a way that empowers them to think, dream, and become more. And we want working people to finally feel the fruits of their labor instead of constantly learning how to survive a system that was supposed to work for them.

Nearly 190,000 people saw value in a campaign calling for Florida to end 287(g) agreements to keep ICE out of our communities, expand Medicaid, protect our public schools, repeal the statewide rent control ban and take real action on Florida’s affordability crisis. But those were never just policies on a website. They were about whether a family can afford to remain in their home. Whether a parent can access health care. Whether a child receives the education they deserve. Whether someone who works hard every day can actually build stability, security and something better for their children.

This campaign was led by real people in this state who understood that too many decisions made in Tallahassee are not making our lives better. Too many everyday working people are surviving instead of thriving. Teachers, first responders, nurses, small-business owners, seniors, parents and working families are the people who keep Florida moving every single day. They should not continuously be asked to sacrifice more while receiving less.

Being Governor of Florida is an act of service. The Governor is employed by we the people. I understood this, and it is one of the reasons why I entered this race in August 2025. Government does not exist so that people can serve a system. The system exists to serve people.

We hear the word believe often in politics. Belief is easy when it is just a word. Authentic belief requires us to believe completely in working people so much to fight for them. Believing completely in our children to demand more for them. Believing completely in our neighbors to care when they are struggling. Believing completely in democracy to question the choices placed in front of us, even when questioning them is uncomfortable.

Following a system can feel comfortable. Following an establishment can feel comfortable. Settling can feel comfortable. But comfortable does not always mean right.

We would never tell our children to shrink their dreams because fighting for more might be difficult. We would never tell our parents to accept less dignity because change feels uncertain. We would never look at someone we love and tell them to settle for a life smaller than the one they deserve. So Florida, if we would never settle for the people we love, why should we settle when we walk into the voting booth? That is a question bigger than this election. It is one I hope we continue asking ourselves.

Tuesday night did not make me believe less in Florida. It made me believe more deeply in the people who live here. 189,234 of you found this campaign without millions of dollars behind it, without a statewide political machine and without the opportunity for a gubernatorial primary debate. You found it anyway and stayed. That matters.

For that, thank you. Thank you to every person who opened a door, shared a post, made a phone call, donated what they could, spoke to a neighbor, welcomed me into their community or walked into a voting booth and decided that your voice belonged to you. Tuesday night was not the end of this movement. It was proof that this movement exists.

So remember this: you have power. Never allow an election result, a political party, an institution or an establishment to convince you otherwise. The history of progress has always belonged to people willing to stand up, question what they were handed and imagine something better. Our own families did it. Generations before us did it. We can do it too.

And no, I am not disappearing because an election ended. I know what I saw across this state. I know what people told me. I know what families are carrying. I know how badly people want something better. And I know that 189,234 Floridians saw enough in this movement to stand with it. I will keep showing up. I will keep speaking. I will keep asking hard questions. I will continue challenging systems and institutions when they forget who they work for. And yes, when necessary, I will continue to be a thorn in the establishment’s side.

Whether it is 2028, 2030 or whatever comes next, this movement will have another opportunity to make its voice heard.

This was never simply about one campaign or one candidate. It was about people. It was about dignity. It was about freedom and prosperity meaning something in the everyday lives of Floridians. It was about building a Florida where working people can finally partake in the pursuit of happiness.

And most of all, it was about reminding ordinary people that there is nothing ordinary about what happens when they decide to use their voice.

Florida, never forget that.

The Blue Flame will endure.

Until next time, I’ll see you very soon. 🔵🔥