Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a Republican from Florida, is making a strong push to sway firefighters towards supporting the Trump-Vance ticket. Gimenez, the only career firefighter in Congress, will be introducing Sen. JD Vance at the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) conference in Boston on Thursday. His aim is to persuade members of the IAFF, a labor union that endorsed President Biden in 2020, to switch sides this election cycle.
Gimenez, a former City of Miami fire chief, believes that firefighters, like former President Trump, are always ready to “answer the call.” He emphasized the urgency and importance of firefighters’ role, drawing parallels to the current state of America. He said, “Right now, America is asking for help, and we should respond. And America is asking for help because of the disaster that’s been the Biden-Harris administration.”
Gimenez expressed his concerns about Vice President Kamala Harris’ economic policies, suggesting they are mere attempts to fix issues exacerbated by the Biden-Harris administration itself. He compared this approach to an arsonist offering advice on putting out the fire, implying that Harris’ solutions are ineffective and unreliable.
Despite the historical Democratic lean of the IAFF, Gimenez remains optimistic about the potential for a shift in support. He pointed to the fact that the union did not immediately endorse Harris this time around, indicating a possible change in sentiment. He believes that the Trump-Vance ticket could break the traditional Democratic trend within the IAFF.
Gimenez also highlighted the unwavering dedication of firefighters, regardless of their political affiliations. “Every time the bell rings, we get on the truck or we get on the rescue [vehicle] and we answer the call. We’re going to help – that’s what’s great about [firefighters],” he stated, underscoring the essential role of firefighters in times of crisis.
