Democratic primary challenger calls on ousted State Attorney Andrew Warren to drop out

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Democratic primary challenger for the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office sent a letter Monday evening to ousted State Attorney Andrew Warren, calling on him to drop out of the primary.

The challenger, Elizabeth Martinez Strauss, is competing for the Democrats’ nomination for state attorney and appealed to Warren’s sense of duty in the letter.

“I now appeal for you to do the right thing for democracy,” Strauss wrote. “If that is what you are really fighting for.”

This came after Warren asked the courts earlier this month to reinstate him as state attorney . Read the full letter below:

“I criticized laws that I thought undermined public safety and that violated people’s constitutional rights,” said Warren previously, defending his actions in the office. “I’m supposed to do that. It’s my constitutional right and it’s my obligation as an elected official to speak out on issues of public importance.”

A judge said Gov. Ron DeSantis violated the First Amendment and Florida Constitution in suspending Warren, but held off on reinstating him.

In her letter to Warren, Strauss said DeSantis would take this case to the Supreme Court and suspend Warren in the meantime if he was to be reinstated or voted back in. But DeSantis has not said what he would do in that case yet .

“If ifs and buts were candy and nuts every day would be Christmas,” DeSantis said. “I think it’s all going to work out, I think it’ll be good. The suspension in Hillsborough and Orange counties with those state attorneys, you talk to law enforcement on the ground, lives have been saved because we have people in there who take the law seriously.”

Strauss added that, with the conservative-leaning Supreme Court, a future decision could set a dangerous precedent for local elections.

“Now, the course has been run and there is no sign of relief,” Strauss wrote. “It is time for you to take one for the team, as you promised before.”

8 On Your Side has reached out to the Andrew Warren campaign for response to the letter, but has not heard back.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary in August will face State Attorney Suzy Lopez in November for the office.

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