On Sunday night, a canvasser associated with incumbent Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio's campaign was reportedly attacked.
The campaign volunteer, who was wearing apparel supportive of the Florida Senator and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, reportedly suffered internal bleeding and will require facial reconstructive surgery, Rubio reported on Monday. Hialeah Mayor Esteban "Steve" Bovo said the police department have reportedly made an arrest, though did not provide further details citing a lack of information, the Miami Herald reported.
"Last night one of our canvassers wearing my T-shirt and a DeSantis hat was brutally attacked by 4 animals who told him Republicans weren’t allowed in their neighborhood in #Hialeah #Florida," said the Florida Senator. "He suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw & will need facial reconstructive surgery."
"Sadly, we get the news and we’re still waiting for details. It’s always important to have details," Rubio said during a Monday rally at the John F. Kennedy Library in Hialeah, noting the lack of information surrounding the attack, the outlet reported. "We’re not like these other people that always jump to conclusions, but we know this: Someone wearing a Rubio T-Shirt and a DeSantis hat was walking in a neighborhood not far from here yesterday when four individuals assaulted him, broke his nose, broke his jaw."
"I can tell you this: political violence should not be tolerated by anyone," Rubio concluded at the Monday rally. "Our side or their side, we don’t tolerate political violence. In this country, we decide who governs not by street mobs, we decide who governs at the ballot box,"
"There’s no place for violence in politics," said Democratic Gubernatorial challenger Charlie Crist. "Senator Rubio, your canvasser is in our prayers and we look forward to those responsible being brought to justice."
"Regardless of our political party, we should all be fighting for our democracy, fighting to uphold the rule of law and fighting to protect our freedoms," said Rubio's Democratic challenger and current United States House representative Val Demings appearing to reference the Sunday night attack.
"I have zero tolerance for any violence against any person for any reason," Demings followed up in a separate response shortly after. "Those responsible for attacking a canvasser last night should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Police reportedly arrested 22-year-old Javier Jesus Lopez for his involvement with the attack. Lopez allegedly told the canvasser, who was identified as a 27-year-old man, "You can't pass by here, this is my neighborhood." The canvasser responded, "This is public property and I can be here if I want to." The two argued as Lopez reportedly began slamming the canvasser's head into the ground before fleeing, Local 10 reported late Monday afternoon.