Jerry Demings says locals should have a say on naming Palm Beach County airport after Donald Trump

If elected Governor, Jerry Demings said he would push to repeal Florida’s anti-diversity laws and seek local input on the newly renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport in Palm Beach County.

Demings said he cares what residents and Palm Beach County officials think about the renaming of the Palm Beach International Airport, which takes effect July 1.

“It’s stunning to me that we have a sitting President building and naming monuments after himself,” Demings said during an interview on CNN’s “Inside Politics.”

“Certainly I would work with the Palm Beach County Airport Authority and that particular community to see if that’s something that’s important to them. At this point, it does seem a little self-serving by the President to do what he’s doing.”

Demings, a Democrat running to replace the term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, was asked about everything from the new airport renaming to Democrats’ chances of winning the Governor’s race during the CNN interview. Currently the Orange County Mayor, Demings is running in the Democratic Primary against former U.S. Rep. David Jolly.

CNN’s Manu Raju asked Demings if he, as Governor, would fight Trump “tooth and nail” like California Gov. Gavin Newsom or be more like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan trying to work with Trump.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” Demings said. “I believe that government works the best when the federal government and the state and the local governments work together.”

However, Demings also quickly brought up his own fights with Republicans. DeSantis’ administration threatened to remove Demings from office last year to pressure Orange County officials into signing an immigration enforcement agreement with the federal government. Demings is also currently in a battle to get Orange County reimbursed for the costs of housing federal immigration detainees in its jail.

“Quite frankly, I’m not opposed to fighting for what I believe is right,” Demings said.

Deming also made clear that he is against Florida’s ongoing cultural wars against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

“We want to embrace diversity in the state of Florida,” Demings said. “We are a melting pot with people from all over the world. I can tell you that I’ve been accused of being woke. I don’t even know what that is.”

Last week, two Democrats flipped a pair of red seats in the Special Elections. In House District 87, Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Jon Maples, a candidate President Donald Trump backed. And in Senate District 14, Democrat Brian Nathan upset Republican Rep. Josie Tomkow.

Those races show the “Democratic Party is on the upswing,” Demings told CNN as he described Floridians frustrated with housing and insurance prices and ready for a change.

Demings acknowledged the GOP’s strong voter registration advantages in Florida but insisted there is a way for a Democrat to win in November.

“The only path to victory for a Democratic candidate running statewide is to appeal to a broader audience,” Demings said about the importance of winning independent and third-party voters. “I believe that even frustrated Republicans are sitting on the sidelines in many cases waiting to see something fresh.

CNN asked Demings, “But you’d consider yourself a progressive, right?”

“I consider myself a moderate Democrat,” Demings answered, adding he was a “lifelong Democrat.”

Before being elected to the nonpartisan office of Orange County Mayor, Demings was elected as Orange County Sheriff and also previously served as the Orlando City Police Chief.