Florida Democratic congressional hopeful Margaret Good was the only state house member to vote against a bill that banned the sale and possession of child sex dolls—a vote she now says is a mistake.
Good, who enjoys the support of national Democrats and pro-abortion activists, voted against a 2019 bill that made selling, possessing, or advertising "an obscene, child-like sex doll" a third-degree felony. The Good campaign told the Washington Free Beacon that the Democrat made the vote "in error."
Florida law allows legislators to change their votes through an online database—Good initially voted in favor of the bill on May 1, 2019, but changed her vote two days later. Campaign manager Alex Koren said the change was a mistake, claiming that Good intended to change her April 30, 2019, vote on a higher education bill.
A longtime veteran of Florida politics said it is rare for lawmakers to change their votes. "It's not all that common for someone to go back and change a vote—usually they would give a reason," the operative said. "It's abnormal, and most importantly, she'd have to go out of her way to do it."
The legislation was introduced by Democratic state senator Lauren Book, who argued that the dolls "lower the inhibitions of child predators."
"Child sex dolls are anatomically correct, responsive, lifelike silicone dolls designed for sexual gratification—and they have no place in the state of Florida," Book said after her bill passed the Florida legislature in May 2019. "We want to make our state as unfriendly to child predators as possible."
Good's vote change went unnoticed at the time—a May 23, 2019, Associated Press report noted that the bill "passed the legislature unanimously earlier this month."
Good is now running to unseat seven-term incumbent congressman Vern Buchanan (R., Fla.). She has landed national endorsements from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, pro-abortion groups Planned Parenthood Action Fund and EMILY's List, and progressive congresswoman Deb Haaland (D., N.M.). The seat is a top 2020 target for House Democrats—the DCCC in July added Good to its "highly competitive" Red to Blue program, which provides "top-tier candidates" with fundraising support and staff resources.
"Margaret Good is poised to flip this seat, rising above petty politics as she brings Florida's 16th Congressional District the independent, accountable voice it deserves," Rep. Cheri Bustos (D., Ill.) said in a statement following the announcement.
While the DCCC also praised Good for surpassing "aggressive" fundraising goals, the Democrat has lagged behind in the race financially, raising nearly $1.8 million to Buchanan's $3 million as of July 29. Good holds $1 million on hand, while Buchanan holds nearly $1.7 million.
The DCCC did not respond to a request for comment.