Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee Charlie Crist has picked the president of the Miami-Dade County lecturers union to be his jogging mate, inserting education at the forefront of his marketing campaign as he seeks to defeat incumbent GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis in November.

United Teachers of Dade President Karla Hernandez-Mats was announced as Crist's managing mate on Saturday throughout a marketing campaign party held in Miami.

"This guy's the opposite of liberty," Crist mentioned of Gov. DeSantis shortly after taking the stage to talk to supporters. "We are for true flexibility. Independence for all of you."

"I am enthusiastic to introduce to you a fantastic man or woman," Crist explained. "Karla is an wonderful particular person. She seriously is." Describing her as a "loving" and "compassionate" trainer during his introduction of Hernandez-Mats, Crist said, "You know her, I like her, satisfy the future lieutenant governor of Florida, Karla Hernandez."

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Charlie Crist, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Florida, speaks in the course of a principal night social gathering in Saint Petersburg, Florida, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. (Thomas Wheelock by using Getty Photos)

"Are you exhausted of the society wars and the extremists that are dictating what we can not say and do," Hernandez-Mats questioned the crowd on having the stage. "Are you sick of politicians who act like authoritarians trying to tear aside our democracy? … That's why we are right here today. To defeat Ron DeSantis and bring decency and regard back again to the state of Florida."

"I am so honored to be joining this staff, the successful ticket," she extra. "It's the prospect of a life span to battle upcoming to Charlie as your upcoming lieutenant governor."

Describing herself as a "proud union member," Hernandez-Mats claimed, "It is really been dim, but we're gonna provide the sunshine back" to Florida.

"Almost everything is on the ballot this November," she said. "If you treatment about freedoms and you care about women's freedom to opt for and have autonomy over their body, I have to have you to vote. If you care about shielding people's freedom and building certain they have accessibility to vote, I want you to choose a close friend and go out and vote."

Hernandez-Mats joined the leadership team for United Instructors of Dade in 2013 as the secretary-treasurer. 3 decades later, in 2016, she became the organization's initial Hispanic chief when she was elected as president.

Hernandez-Mats, a vocal critic of steps taken by DeSantis in latest decades, pushed again on his endeavor to re-open universities in the Sunshine Condition amid the COVID-19 pandemic and insisted colleges really should not be re-opened until finally "the protection of our community is secured."

Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., claimed he "is likely to conquer" DeSantis for the Florida governorship this November. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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"The idea that reopening our universities is an choice simply because 'if you're youthful, it just has not experienced an impact' is not only totally contradictory to what we know to be the facts of this pandemic, it is dangerous for our communities at massive," Hernandez-Mats mentioned in 2020 pertaining to DeSantis' remarks, in accordance to NBC 6 South Florida.

In a tweet issued past November, she acknowledged that college closures impacted the pace at which pupils understand, in contrast to earlier decades. "Pacing guides are arbitrary, you are the education skilled that knows what your pupils need to have," she wrote in response to a concerned instructor. "If you go way too quick they may well slide farther behind, get demoralized, & heighten their worry."

Hernandez-Mats also drew criticism from residents in Florida past October when she shared a tweet evaluating parents who attend faculty board meetings to notable, fictional serial killers, such as Freddy Krueger from the horror film franchise "Nightmare on Elm Road" and Jason Voorhees from the basic Friday the 13th films.

"For any of you next the university board meetings, you know that the craziness is serious. God be with us," she wrote.

Hernandez-Mats has also confronted criticism for a 2016 tweet that claimed "several in Cuba" have been mourning and "most in Miami" have been rejoicing in excess of the death of Fidel Castro, the Cuban dictator who embraced communism and the former Soviet Union and whose economic insurance policies developed unrest and havoc in Cuba.

"A political figure dies at 90. Most in Miami rejoice, quite a few in Cuba mourn #FidelCastro," she wrote.

Hernandez-Mats — the daughter of two Honduran immigrants who came to The us in the 1970s — has also been essential of what opponents have dubbed the "Do not Say Homosexual" legislation, which prohibits lessons on sexual orientation and gender id in Florida school rooms.

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Before this week, Crist, a former Republican who has represented Florida's 13th Congressional District as a Democrat in the Dwelling given that 2017, explained to CNN that he would "absolutely" welcome President Biden to marketing campaign with him in Florida and insisted that Biden is the purpose "gas costs are down."

"Look at what he's — President Biden — done for our nation. He's been remarkable," Crist reported. "Search what he is accomplished for the world… what is actually going on in Ukraine, him bringing NATO with each other, new customers to NATO – Finland, Sweden. It is really impressive. What other president could've performed what he is accomplished? He is been phenomenal. Gasoline charges are down. Inflation is trending down. Democracy is trending up."

Previously this month, Crist claimed DeSantis is the "most arrogant" governor he experienced at any time noticed and known as him a "wannabe dictator."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to supporters at a campaign stop on the Retain Florida Cost-free Tour at the Horsepower Ranch in Geneva. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Photographs/LightRocket through Getty Images)

"He’s the most arrogant governor I have at any time seen in my lifestyle. It is surprising, it definitely is. Enough is ample," Crist said, according to The Guardian. "He’s a barbaric, wannabe dictator."

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Crist, who defeated his most important challenger Nikki Fried in Tuesday's election and served as Florida's governor from 2007 to 2011, is slated to deal with off versus DeSantis in the state when voters head to the polls on Nov. 8 for the common election.

The contributed to this report.