South Florida Sun Sentinel Declines to Endorse Jared Moskowitz in His Primary Against DSA Challenger Oliver Larkin

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board has decided not to endorse Rep. Jared Moskowitz in the upcoming August 18 Democratic primary.

Frank Butler, OrlandoAdvocate.com

In reaching its decision, The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board noted that the lack of endorsement was actually a pivot from prior years:

• “The Sun Sentinel has endorsed Moskowitz in all of his previous races. But in this case, his continued avoidance of Larkin shows a lack of respect for voters and can be viewed as an unwillingness to defend his own record. . . . The congressman…has held no in-person town halls with constituents. That falls far short of what voters deserve.”

Oliver Larkin, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-endorsed candidate for Florida’s 25th Congressional District, and the person who earned the Sun Sentinel endorsement, emphasized the need for new leadership. He issued the following statement:

“South Floridians aren’t getting the answers we need from self-proclaimed ‘DeSantis Democrat’ Jared Moskowitz. Rep. Moskowitz was the first Democrat in Congress to join DOGE and the only Florida Democrat to vote for Trump’s pro-ICE Laken Riley Act. He has been rated Florida’s least effective Democrat in Congress. Rather than answer for these votes, he has avoided accountability—refusing to hold even a single public town hall since his election in 2022. This is unacceptable behavior from a public official.”

In a separate interview, Rep. Moskowitz, who is Jewish, alleged that Larkin’s campaign was motivated solely by religion. The Editorial Board rejected this claim, stating: “That is demonstrably untrue. Larkin, 34, began his political career as a New Hampshire organizer for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential effort. He supports a $25 minimum wage, Medicare for All, universal background checks for gun buyers, the Green New Deal, eliminating corporate PAC money in politics, abolishing ICE, and lifting the Cuban embargo.”

“As voters across the country reject out-of-touch, AIPAC-funded incumbents,” Larkin said, “our campaign offers South Florida the bold new leadership we deserve—a union organizer rejecting corporate PAC donations and fighting for Medicare for All, a $25 minimum wage, and universal childcare. These are transformative policies, and I will work tirelessly to deliver them.”

He concluded:

Larkin is the first candidate in Florida history to receive a national DSA endorsement for Congress. His campaign joins a growing wave of progressive primary challenges nationwide, alongside recent victories by candidates such as Melat Kiros (CO-01), Claire Valdez (NY-07), Darializa Avila Chevalier (NY-13), and Chris Rabb (PA-03). With five and a half weeks remaining until the primary, Larkin continues to build endorsements, financial support, and polling momentum.

Following the Sun Sentinel’s announcement, Larkin issued the following statement:

“While Rep. Moskowitz continues to avoid debates and public forums, I will remain committed to traveling across our district to share my vision for how I will fight for families and communities in Congress. Our invitation to Rep. Moskowitz to debate publicly still stands.”

About Oliver Larkin Oliver Larkin is a Fort Lauderdale native and longtime progressive organizer. His platform includes Medicare for All, a $25 minimum wage, the Green New Deal, universal childcare, free public college, paid family and medical leave, abolishing ICE, and ending U.S. support for the war in Gaza. He rejects all corporate PAC contributions.

Larkin’s organizing experience spans from leading a Bernie Sanders field office in 2016 to unionizing his workplace with the NewsGuild-CWA. In South Florida, he has organized against luxury developers, fought landfill expansion, supported LGBTQIA+ communities, and confronted extremist groups such as Moms for Liberty and the Proud Boys as an active member of Broward DSA.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Oliver Larkin, DSA-endorsed candidate for Florida’s 25th Congressional District, underscored the need for new leadership following the Sun Sentinel’s non-endorsement of Rep. Jared Moskowitz in the upcoming August 18th Democratic primary. Key excerpts from the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board are below: In a separate interview, Moskowitz, who is Jewish, said of Larkin, “He’s running against me solely on my religion.” The Editorial Board pushed back: “That is demonstrably untrue. Larkin, 34, began his political career as a New Hampshire organizer for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential effort. He supports a $25 minimum wage, Medicare for All, universal background checks for gun buyers, the Green New Deal, eliminating corporate PAC money in politics, abolishing ICE and lifting the Cuban embargo.” “The Sun Sentinel has endorsed Moskowitz in all of his previous races. But in this case, his continued avoidance of Larkin shows a lack of respect for voters and can be viewed as an unwillingness to defend his own record.” “The congressman…has held no in-person town halls with constituents. That falls far short of what voters deserve.” As Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Congressional candidate wins across the country shake up Democratic primaries and elevate fellow progressives like Melat Kiros (CO-01) in Colorado, Claire Valdez (NY-07) and Darializa Avila Chevalier (NY-13) in New York, and Chris Rabb (PA-03) in Pennsylvania in recent weeks, Larkin—the first national DSA endorsement for Congress this cycle and first in Florida history—is building endorsements, financial support, and polling momentum in the race’s final five and a half weeks. Following the Sun Sentinel’s announcement, Oliver Larkin made the following statement: “South Floridians aren’t getting the answers we need from self-proclaimed ‘DeSantis Democrat’ Jared Moskowitz. Rep. Moskowitz was the first Democrat in Congress to join DOGE and the only Florida Democrat to vote for Trump’s pro-ICE Laken Riley Act, rated Florida’s least effective Democrat in Congress. This and many of his other votes have harmed this district and our country. Rather than answer for that, he’s made a political strategy out of avoiding tough questions about his record, refusing to hold even a single public town hall since voters sent him to Congress in 2022. It’s pure cowardice. His sense of entitlement and arrogance is unacceptable for a public official,” said Oliver Larkin, candidate for Florida’s 25th Congressional District. “As voters across the country reject out of touch, AIPAC-funded incumbents, our primary challenge offers South Florida voters the bold new leadership we deserve—a union organizer rejecting corporate PAC donations and fighting for Medicare for All, a $25 minimum wage, and universal childcare. These are the bold, life-changing policies people deserve, and I’ll do everything in my power to help deliver them.” Larkin continued, “While Rep. Moskowitz hides from voters and refuses to participate in debates, I will continue to travel across our district to share my vision for how I’ll fight for our families and communities in Congress next year. Our invitation to Rep. Moskowitz to debate publicly still stands.” More About Oliver Larkin Oliver is a Fort Lauderdale native and a decade-long progressive organizer, fighting for Medicare for All, a $25 minimum wage, the Green New Deal, universal childcare, free public college, paid family and medical leave, abolishing ICE, and an end to the US-funded genocide in Gaza. He rejects all corporate PAC money. From leading a Bernie Sanders field office in 2016 to unionizing his workplace with the NewsGuild-CWA, Oliver took what he learned and put it to work in South Florida, organizing against luxury developers, fighting toxic landfill expansion, standing with LGBTQIA+ communities, and confronting groups like Moms for Liberty and the Proud Boys alongside families, educators, and students as an active member of Broward DSA.

Here’s a polished, professional rewrite of your draft:

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Oliver Larkin, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-endorsed candidate for Florida’s 25th Congressional District, emphasized the need for new leadership following the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board’s decision not to endorse Rep. Jared Moskowitz in the upcoming August 18 Democratic primary.

The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board noted:

• “The Sun Sentinel has endorsed Moskowitz in all of his previous races. But in this case, his continued avoidance of Larkin shows a lack of respect for voters and can be viewed as an unwillingness to defend his own record.”
• “The congressman…has held no in-person town halls with constituents. That falls far short of what voters deserve.”

In a separate interview, Rep. Moskowitz, who is Jewish, alleged that Larkin’s campaign was motivated solely by religion. The Editorial Board rejected this claim, stating: “That is demonstrably untrue. Larkin, 34, began his political career as a New Hampshire organizer for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential effort. He supports a $25 minimum wage, Medicare for All, universal background checks for gun buyers, the Green New Deal, eliminating corporate PAC money in politics, abolishing ICE, and lifting the Cuban embargo.”

Larkin is the first candidate in Florida history to receive a national DSA endorsement for Congress. His campaign joins a growing wave of progressive primary challenges nationwide, alongside recent victories by candidates such as Melat Kiros (CO-01), Claire Valdez (NY-07), Darializa Avila Chevalier (NY-13), and Chris Rabb (PA-03). With five and a half weeks remaining until the primary, Larkin continues to build endorsements, financial support, and polling momentum.

Following the Sun Sentinel’s announcement, Larkin issued the following statement:

“South Floridians aren’t getting the answers we need from self-proclaimed ‘DeSantis Democrat’ Jared Moskowitz. Rep. Moskowitz was the first Democrat in Congress to join DOGE and the only Florida Democrat to vote for Trump’s pro-ICE Laken Riley Act. He has been rated Florida’s least effective Democrat in Congress. Rather than answer for these votes, he has avoided accountability—refusing to hold even a single public town hall since his election in 2022. This is unacceptable behavior from a public official.”

Larkin added:

“As voters across the country reject out-of-touch, AIPAC-funded incumbents, our campaign offers South Florida the bold new leadership we deserve—a union organizer rejecting corporate PAC donations and fighting for Medicare for All, a $25 minimum wage, and universal childcare. These are transformative policies, and I will work tirelessly to deliver them.”

He concluded:

“While Rep. Moskowitz continues to avoid debates and public forums, I will remain committed to traveling across our district to share my vision for how I will fight for families and communities in Congress. Our invitation to Rep. Moskowitz to debate publicly still stands.”

About Oliver Larkin Oliver Larkin is a Fort Lauderdale native and longtime progressive organizer. His platform includes Medicare for All, a $25 minimum wage, the Green New Deal, universal childcare, free public college, paid family and medical leave, abolishing ICE, and ending U.S. support for the war in Gaza. He rejects all corporate PAC contributions.

Larkin’s organizing experience spans from leading a Bernie Sanders field office in 2016 to unionizing his workplace with the NewsGuild-CWA. In South Florida, he has organized against luxury developers, fought landfill expansion, supported LGBTQIA+ communities, and confronted extremist groups such as Moms for Liberty and the Proud Boys as an active member of Broward DSA.