ORLANDO, Fla. — From Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson to Carlos Guillermos Smith and Buddy Dyer, statewide Democrats rallied union supporters in Orlando Friday for a hoped-for blue wave this November.

  • Andrew Gillum, Bill Nelson and others to talk about their efforts
  • Candidates to talk about affordable health care, improved education
  • DECISION 2018: Latest News | Voting Guide

The Democrats from across the state met with workers at the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT).  

"Our agenda here for us as a union is working families issues, none of this other stuff that they tend to talk about," Steve Hall, the government affairs director for IUPAT, said before the rally.

The candidates are there to talk about proposed efforts to expand affordable healthcare and improve public education -- and discuss the effort this year to try to end 20 years of Republican rule in Tallahassee.

Those issues are topics the union members set as high priorities as most of their members are trade or contract workers who are focused on ensuring their families have proper healthcare coverage.

“I want to tell you, this is it," said State Rep. Sean Shaw, D-Tampa, who is running for Florida attorney general. "Democrats, this is it. You spoke on Tuesday, and you said you wanted new ideas, you wanted fresh faces, and you wanted something different, you wanted change. You got it. And come, November Florida is going to have it too.”

"We teach people a trade so they can be productive tax payers in the community. I'm a product of the apprentice myself. I worked at Disney for 15 years," Hall explained.

Now those same union workers were learning more on how these candidates plan to deliver on their promises.

"Truly I believe they are coming to a union hall and talking to working people is indicative of their support for working families," Hall stated.

Republicans protest Democrat-union gathering

Meanwhile, a group of Republican voters protested outside the IUPAT building during the rally, saying they wanted to make sure their voices were heard.

"The options are very diverse, with what the options are with the Republican control, we have seen what we have done the past eight years under Governor Scott."

Reporter Bailey Myers contributed to this story.