Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Florida congressional candidate Oliver Larkin appeared at a "Chomp the Oligarchy" rally on Friday as he looks towards next week's Democratic primary.
"A new generation of leadership is stepping forward. The Democratic Socialists of America are filling the leadership vacuum that the Democratic Party left for the working class, so we are going to do it our damn selves," Larkin said during the rally to cheers from the crowd.
Larkin is running to represent Florida's 25th congressional district. He is up against Jared Evan Moskowitz, who currently represents the state's 23rd district, in a high-profile Democratic primary on Tuesday.
Raised in Fort Lauderdale, Larkin was previously a union organizer and a regional field director for Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign. The DSA member's platform calls for Medicare For All, fair taxation, and an end to US military aid for Israel, among other priorities.
Larkin on Friday slammed his primary opponent for voting in favor of the Laken Riley Act, Republican-backed legislation that criminalizes immigrant communities, as well as for joining the DOGE Caucus to support Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
"So often, the rest of the nation looks at Florida and says, 'Oh, look at them down there, let's play the Bugs Bunny gif of sawing it off the map,' but we know that in our state, we are a diverse, working-class community of people that love South Florida," Larkin said.
"We know what South Florida is capable of. We know that people come from all around the world to make the American dream a reality right here. And in South Florida, we have a responsibility to protect that dream, to fight for it."
Larkin highlighted the national significance of his race as a battle rages over the trajectory of the Democratic Party. In doing so, he touted a series of recent primary wins by progressives, including Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Melat Kiros in Colorado, Chris Rabb in Pennsylvania, and Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez in New York.
"It is imperative for all of us to fight for these universal economic issues that we stand on: Medicare For All, universal childcare, paid family and medical leave, a $25 an hour minimum wage," Larkin said. "And we pay for it by ending our addiction to militarism and war-mongering abroad so that we can invest in our communities right here in South Florida."
Elijah Manley and Angie Nixon join "Chomp the Oligarchy" rally
Also at Friday's rally were Elijah Manley, who is running to be the next Democratic representative in Florida's 20th congressional district, as well as Senate candidate and current state Representative Angie Nixon.
Nixon took the stage alongside Representative Rashida Tlaib and spoke to the harms caused by rising US inequality and violence.
"As they continue this oppression, I want you all to realize that now is the time for us to not just sit by and be passive allies," Nixon said. "Now is the time for us to stand up and lock arms and be willful accomplices in this fight against fascism, against authoritarianism, against these oligarchs."
"Now is the time for us to meet this oppression with resistance," she added.
Manley emphasized the urgency of the moment, pointing to the increased threats targeting Black Americans in his district and around the country.
"This administration has been horrible for Black people," Manley said, referring to the Donald Trump presidency. "We are done with the school-to-prison pipeline, we are done with the criminal justice system that doesn't work for us, and we are ready to win."
"My friends, they tried so hard to break up this movement, but when I look across this room, I see diversity. I see people who are ready for change, and I have never been more fired up than I am now because I know we are going to win."