Kendrick Meek is a lifelong fighter for the middle class and knows what it means to work hard. As a high school student, Kendrick saved for college by working for tips as an airport skycap. After college, he committed himself to public service and trained to become a Trooper in the Florida Highway Patrol.

As a Trooper, Kendrick saw he could have a far greater impact on his community by making laws, not just enforcing them. In 2002, he led the effort to reduce class size in Florida. When the Republicans blocked class size reforms in the State House, he took the issue straight to the people and campaigned to amend the Florida constitution to limit class sizes. Florida voters signed on to the amendment, and it has helped Florida students learn ever since.

Kendrick is a leader who isn’t afraid to tackle big issues. He is the only candidate in this U.S. Senate race to consistently support President Obama’s health care reform plan, oppose drilling off Florida’s beaches, and stick up for a woman’s right to choose. Since the financial collapse, he has fought to protect the livelihoods of middle class Florida families by reigning Big Banks on Wall Street. In these tough times, Florida families need leaders like Kendrick who will fight for them, not politicians who put their own political careers and ideology first.