Endorsement: Jason Pizzo, Barbara Sharief for State Senate

In South Florida, only two state senate races are real contests. In Florida Democrats' quest to take away the republicans' supermajority, these seats are must wins for the party. These two races feature a longtime Broward politician, and a former prosecutor who is expected to lead the Democrats in the Florida Senate through 2026. In Senate District 35, we recommend that voters elect Barbara Sharief to the State Senate. In nearby District 37, we urge voters to keep incumbent Jason Pizzo in the State Senate.

State Senate District 35

This district covers a swath of the Florida everglades, and Southwest Broward County, including all or parts of Davie, Weston, Miramar, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, and Cooper City. It is currently represented by State Senator Lauren Book, who has held the seat since 2016. Book is the Democratic leader in the Florida Senate. There are two candidates running for the seat. They are Democrat Barbara Sharief, a former Broward County Mayor and Commissioner who unsuccessfully ran for Congress and for this seat two years ago, and Republican Vincent Parlatore a veteran and former Broward Sheriff's Deputy. We endorse Barbara Sharief for the seat. Sharief won a closely-watched Democratic primary against two well-funded challengers in August. She previously served as a Broward County Commissioner for 12 years, with two stints as Mayor of Broward County. This government experience can be an asset in the state capitol where too often legislators ignore home rule. With issues such as the property insurance crisis, vacation rentals, and climate change, it is important to have a leader in the senate who knows these issues. Sharief's wealth of knowledge and time in local government is just what Democrats need in Tallahassee. Sharief's Republican opponent, Vincent Parlatore has a platform that isn't extreme, which is refreshing to see because so many in his party run solely on cultural issues. However, he lacks the experience needed to excel in the powerful Florida State Senate. Parlatore's bid for State Senate is misplaced. He should be running for a city council seat to gain experience first.

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State Senate District 37

This district covers the coastal areas of Broward and Miami-Dade counties. This includes all of Wilton Manors, and parts of Fort Lauderdale, Lighthouse Point, Oakland Park, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Sea Ranch Lakes, Dania Beach, Hollywood, the airport and seaport, West Park, Pembroke Park, Hallandale Beach, Aventura, and Sunny Isles Beach. In this race, we support the incumbent, Jason Pizzo. Pizzo has served in the Florida Senate since he ousted controversial State Senator Daphne Campbell in 2018. He's preparing to succeed Lauren Book as the top Democrat in the chamber come November. His priorities include tackling the property insurance crisis, and criminal justice reform. He's also a potential Democratic contender for Governor. DeSantis terms out in 2026. Pizzo gets things done and delivers resources to the cities in his district. This was an easy endorsement. It really isn't even a race. He's being challenged by Imtiaz Mohammad, a former Democrat who decided out of nowhere to become a Republican. Not only is Mohammad a party hopper, he does not even live in the district. We question the judgment and sincerity of individuals who go from being a Democratic candidate who attends every Democratic club or caucus meeting to becoming a die-hard Republican in a matter of two years. In fact, he posted a rabid post in 2022 slamming Democrats for "supporting homosexuality" and same-sex marriages. It's probably lost on him that the district he is running in is home to a very large and active LGBTQ+ voter base, including all of Wilton Manors and coastal gays in Broward County. As Daria would say, "That's it, Shakespeare. Do your own damn homework." Case closed.

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Endorsements are the viewpoints of The County's Editorial Board members Elijah Manley, and Luc Saint-Genies. Endorsement may or may not reflect the personal beliefs and preferences of individual members of the Editorial Board, or The County's writers.