Democrat Karla Hernandez-Mats, candidate for lieutenant governor, campaigns in SWFL

Charlie Crist and his running mate are hitting the campaign trail, hoping to win your vote for governor in November.

Democrat Karla Hernandez-Mats spent her Tuesday in Southwest Florida making appearances at multiple events.

Hernandez-Mats said Crist chose her because he understands that she’s a woman who advocates for rights, and she said that’s what women in particular need in Florida.

Crist said Hernandez-Mats has a good heart.

“I am a mom, a teacher, an advocate for special needs students out of Miami-Dade. And I am the nominee for lieutenant governor,” said Hernandez-Mats.

Her first stop of the day was at Collier County’s Choice. It is the choice breakfast where Hernandez-Mats addressed Democratic voters’ questions about abortion rights and affordable housing.

Everything has to go right for the Republican turned Democrat Crist to upset incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis.

His first decision as the nominee was to choose Hernandez-Mats as his running mate. A person who has no political or legislative experience.

WINK News asked Hernandez-Mats if her lack of experience was a concern for her.

“I’m not worried because I feel like, and this is, this is actually an excellent question, because a lot of people ask me, well, how do you know the issues, and I tell people that as a classroom teacher, we’re a microcosm of what happens in communities,” Hernandez-Mats said.

Hernandez-Mats said she echoes Crist’s values. Starting with what she believes is a woman’s absolute right to an abortion.

As a former teacher, she doesn’t support what DeSantis has done in schools.

“They’re banning books and censoring how we teach, and teachers can teach with authenticity, I feel like all of that just, you know, it comes to a pivotal point in the classroom because we see and experience all these things,” said Hernandez-Mats.

Hernandez-Mats’ second stop was in Cape Coral. She attended a house party hosted by the leader of the Lee County Democratic Party. There she delivered remarks and chatted with fellow Democrats.

Her final destination of the day was a meet and greet in Sarasota. She is making the rounds in hopes that by election day, people will know her name and what she stands for.