5/1/24
Today, we lose our freedoms.
“We must fight back and hold those responsible for this cruelty responsible — like our opponent Byron Donalds… one of the cruelest of them all.” — Kari Lerner
CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA — Kari Lerner, Democratic nominee for Congress in Florida’s 19th congressional district against far-right Rep. Byron Donalds, issued the following statement regarding Florida’s new six-week abortion ban.
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4/5/24
Kari Lerner calls out federal, state, and local leaders for catastrophic loss of FEMA flood insurance funding.
CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA — Florida U.S. Representative Byron Donalds’ (R-19) Democratic challenger Kari Lerner took him and other federal, state, and local officials to task following the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision to disallow the federal flood insurance discount to 125,000 property owners in Lee County.
“Governor Ron DeSantis and the State Legislature have been absolutely incompetent in reigning in our skyrocketing insurance rates. The Lee County Commissioners and officials from cities other than Fort Myers and Sanibel failed to heed warnings from FEMA about improper rebuilding that would trigger a loss of FEMA flood insurance discounts. And now our federal officials say they are ‘discouraged’ and have sent a letter to FEMA asking that the funding be restored.”
3/22/24
For Immediate Release:
“March again, we must.”
19th congressional district challenger Kari Lerner (D) to attend Saturday’s Women’s March in Fort Myers.
CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA — Democratic challenger Kari Lerner announced she will speak at the MARCH FORWARD event sponsored by Women’s March Fort Myers and the National Organization for Women – Lee County Chapter this Saturday, March 23rd. The event starts at 10:00am in front of the Old Lee Courthouse, 2120 Main Street, Fort Myers.
Lerner, the Democratic challenger to far-rightwing Rep. Byron Donalds, took aim at former president Donald Trump, declaring, “Seven years ago millions of women took to the streets across the nation to protest Donald Trump’s inauguration, his misogynistic rhetoric, and his direct threat to the rights of women (and we were right). Sadly, march again, we must.”
“We will march to stop the likes of authoritarian dictator-wannabe Donald Trump (again) and his vice-president-wannabe Byron Donalds,” continued Lerner. “And let’s be clear: Rep. Byron Donalds is a direct threat to our democracy and to the rights of women.”
3/9/24
For Immediate Release:
Rep. Byron Donalds has time to meddle with Washington, DC’s affairs, but can’t pass Hurricane Ian tax relief bill.
CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA — Democratic challenger Kari Lerner continued to highlight Rep. Byron Donalds’ (R-FL) failure to pass his promised Hurricane Ian tax relief legislation.
The Hurricane Tax Relief Act (H.R. 1494) was introduced by Rep. Donalds exactly one year ago today and has since languished with no activity in the Republican-controlled House Ways and Means Committee. [1]
3/7/24
For Immediate Release:
Democrat Kari Lerner blasts Rep. Byron Donalds for failing to pass Hurricane Ian tax relief bill.
“It’s time for Byron Donalds to stop making excuses and stop blaming others.”
CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA — Democratic challenger Kari Lerner blasted her opponent, incumbent Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), for his failure to pass promised tax relief legislation to aid victims of Hurricane Ian, a Category 5 storm that devastated southwest Florida in 2022.
The Hurricane Tax Relief Act (H.R. 1494), was introduced by Rep. Donalds exactly one year ago and has since languished with no activity in the Republican-controlled House Ways and Means Committee. The bill “modifies tax rules relating to personal casualty losses for taxpayers affected by Hurricane Ian” and “eliminates the requirements that such taxpayers must itemize their tax deductions.”
3/3/24
Kari Lerner: The courage and conviction to serve in Congress
The Paradise Progressive
“… in his rush to curry Trump’s favor, [Byron] Donalds has overlooked the district’s needs and issues and neglected to advance any legislation he introduced in Congress. It’s a pattern that has held throughout his two terms in office… That was especially apparent in Donalds’ response to Hurricane Ian in 2022.
“That was when it became apparent that he does not understand the job,” [Kari Lerner] said. “When you’re a member of Congress, you do not need to be the one standing there handing out water for a photo op. You need to be in DC getting us the resources that we need. We needed gasoline, we needed
propane, we needed communications, we needed that Ian disaster declaration that finally came through. Why weren’t they writing that the day after the storm? Why weren’t they looking to get us the resources that we needed?…”
3/1/24
Dr. Byron Donalds, OB/GYN
OB/GYN-wanna-be Rep. Byron Donalds appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press last weekend and showed the entire country just how little he knows about women’s reproductive healthcare.
After several minutes of auditioning to be former President Trump’s vice presidential pick, NBC host Kristen Welker asked “Doctor” Donalds about the shocking Alabama Supreme Court ruling declaring embryos created by in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures are now to be considered to be children.
His answers on IVF were a word-salad of absolute ignorance.
Watch from 4:31 minute mark
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2/16/24
NBC-2
Congressional candidate Kari Lerner speaks to NBC2 ahead of race against Byron Donalds
Southwest Florida Congressman Byron Donalds will have a challenger in November.
The woman who wants to unseat him sat down exclusively Friday with me to explain how she differs from Donalds.
“My goal is to look at the voters and say I’m Kari Lerner. I’m running for congress,” Lerner said.
1/20/24
Uniting Voices at the Women’s March
Kari Lerner Establishes a New Paradigm for Leadership
Kicking off her campaign at the Lee County Women’s March, Kari Lerner delivered an impactful and resonant address at today’s Women’s March. Her speech, characterized by its eloquence and insightful understanding of contemporary societal challenges, will change the public discourse on key issues:
Protecting the Freedoms that Matter
“From our drinking water to the air we breathe, we must protect the security and safety of our people.”