State Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, sat down with WPTV to discuss her gubernatorial run.
She has represented parts of Miami-Dade County in the Florida Senate since 2017 and is now running against U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried in the Democratic primary.
"We need leadership in Tallahassee. Look, we have a red tide problem throughout Florida. But we also have a red tide problem in Tallahassee," Taddeo told WPTV's Michael Buczyner. "We are banning books. We are banning saying 'gay.' We are even banning corporate diversity and inclusion training. It is, frankly, unacceptable."
She boycotted the special session held in Tallahassee this past week, discussing the congressional maps and Walt Disney World's special district.
"I pledged an oath when I got sworn in to uphold the constitution of the United States and of Florida and the Legislature literally is not upholding it by this process because they gave it to the governor," Taddeo said. "The governor got to draw his own map in the darkness, not in the sunshine, not where people could have input, like we did during the (regular) session. Yes, he can veto the maps, but he can't just get whatever he wants, which is, in essence, what he just got this week. We just went there to rubber stamp him. I didn't get elected to rubber stamp him."
Taddeo said her main priorities as governor would be early education, expanding Medicaid and affordable housing.
She said she personally is dealing with the skyrocketing rent prices and wants to put a limit on how much rent can be increased.
WATCH: Taddeo: I know that there's a way for us to win'
"Let's at least help people right now with a limit," Taddeo said. "The governor will not call a state of emergency for this. I think he should. He could do it with a pen. He doesn't even need the Legislature. I would do that."
In the latest Mason-Dixon polling, Taddeo is trailing Crist and Fried.
"For us to win in November, we need to bring our voters out to vote for someone, not just against (Gov. Ron) DeSantis," Taddeo said.
Although she was Crist's former running mate during his last gubernatorial election, Taddeo stressed that she's not running against him.
WATCH: Taddeo says she's 'running against Charlie'
"I'm not running against Charlie," she said. "I'm running for the nomination and I am making sure that we have the strongest candidate against DeSantis. Look, this is not about Charlie. This is not about me. This is not about Nikki."
She said she needs to attract more Hispanic voters, saying she has faith she can win the primary. If she wins the general election, she would become the first woman and Latina governor.
"I know that we need someone that's going to fight for them and that's going to bring back some balance to Florida, because they're worried about power and money, and we need someone who is going to worry about all Floridians," Taddeo said.