A former Florida governor is among the members of Congress who are urging the current governor to quickly schedule a special election.
"I recall when I was governor when Robert Wexler resigned, within 21 days I announced when the election would be to give voters time."
Democrat Representative Charlie Crist was a Republican governor when he set that election date. Democrat Wexler stepped down from his U.S. House seat in South Florida's District 19 in January 2010. The election was held the following April.
Alcee Hastings died last week and Gov. DeSantis hasn't yet announced when voters in District 20, also in South Florida, will have the chance to pick a replacement.
Crist says the governor should immediately set the date.
"Justice delayed is justice denied and if the governor chooses to delay this decision, he's playing politics. He doesn't need to do that."
Several South Florida Democrats also took part in a Friday press conference to urge DeSantis to not delay.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz says she doesn't understand why the governor hasn't already scheduled the date.
"There's no good reason, none whatsoever, to wait one more day to replace the giant shoes that Alcee Hastings left behind, unless of course you want to play petty partisan politics or have no regard for your own state's constituents."
Palm Beach County's Lois Frankel says the governor has the responsibility to schedule an election.
"Really never has there been a bigger need for government to be there side-by-side with constituents, helping them get back on their feet."
And Boca Raton Democrat Ted Deutch points out that DeSantis should be well aware of the importance of getting someone in the seat to serve the 800,000 residents of District 20.
"The governor was a former congressman. He knows the important role that a representative can play in representing the unique needs and views of his or her constituents."
While the law gives DeSantis the responsibility of setting the election, there are no directions as to when he has to do it.
The Democrats hold a very slim majority in D.C. and have a legislative agenda to pass, without this one seat giving a win to the Republicans in the House.
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