AAPI Vote 2018: Filipina American wins Democratic nod in Florida race

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DR. JENNIFER MIJARES-ZIMMERMAN

A FILIPINA AMERICAN physician became the third Asian American candidate who will run in a congressional race for Florida this November.

Dr. Jennifer Mijares-Zimmerman beat fellow Democrat Phil Ehr even though the latter had raised six-times more campaign funds than Mijares-Zimmerman, 

In November, she will face off against incumbent, Rep. Matt Gaetz, who easily won his Republican race.

Mijarez-Zimmerman will have the odds stacked against her. District 1 is perhaps the most Republican of Florida's congressional districts. About 37,000 Democrats voted last Tuesday, but about 100,000 Republicans cast their ballots. Although there were three Republicans had three candidates in the primary, Gaentz, by himself, had more votes than the two Democrats combined.

Mijares-Zzimmerman hopes that there will be a blue wave this November that will help her defeat Gaentz, who has been endorsed by Donald Trump.

"Battles are not always won by the ones who have the biggest weapons or the most money. You have to have a purpose," she said.

Mijares-Zimmerman joins Rep. Stephanie Murphy and Sanjay Patel, running in District 7 and 9, respectively, as Asian American candidates for Florida's congressional seats this November.

Mijares-Zimmerman has been a pediatrician in Santa Rosa County for two decades. She told WearTV after caring for children and families in Florida’s 1st congressional district, she knows how important healthcare is for everyone. It was Trump's attempts to overturn the Affordable Care Act that inspired her to run against Trump supporter Gaentz.

What did she learn from the primary election?

"The number one thing I have learned is that people actually listen to your truths. if you speak from the heart and you speak the truth people will appreciate that and that is what my campaign was based on. That there is love not hatred that we can work together because one of my hashtags is not only this woman can, but together we rise," she said.

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