Bill Nelson is the Democratic candidate for Senate from Florida. Nelson has been a politician in the Senate and House of Representatives since 1972. He is also a former astronaut, having flown on the Space Shuttle Columbia. But what are his views?
Nelson is generally regarded as a moderate Democrat, meaning he does not fall as far to the left as Bernie Sanders or Andrew Gillum, but still not a conservative.
Perhaps the most contentious factor that Nelson is involved in is gun control. Nelson has been given an “F” by the National Rifle Association, but this organization is regularly hated by Democrats in the country and the Senate. Nelson believes in new gun control laws, including an assault weapons ban, a ban on magazines over 10 rounds and removal of the “gun show loophole,” in which there would be a requirement of a background check on private gun sales. In the state where two of the worst mass shootings in recent times have happened, it is particularly poignant to have common sense gun control so another Pulse or Parkland cannot happen.
Nelson has also supported banning off-shore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. This drilling threatens Florida’s environment and tourism industries, particularly after 2010’s horrendous Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Nelson has also spoken in support of climate change, and introduced an amendment to ban federal agencies from censoring official communications on climate change after Governor Rick Scott directed officials to no longer use the phrases “climate change” and “global warming.”
Senator Nelson is also a supporter of LGBTQ rights, having voted in favor of the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell act, which prevented openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the Armed Forces.
Bill Nelson is being opposed by the Republican nominee, former governor Rick Scott.
Scott is particularly notable for his opposition to Bill Nelson, even calling Nelson a “socialist” which PolitiFact described as a “pants-on-fire” lie since Nelson is a moderate Democrat. Scott is also running advertisements against Nelson criticizing him for being a “lifelong politician.” Since when is experience in a political office a detriment? Nelson has been serving Florida for a long-term and has never done the state wrong. Why should we stop trusting him now?
