Antione Fields announces endorsement from Former Gainesville Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos
Press release from the Antione Fields campaign
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Antione Fields, Democratic candidate for Florida House District 21, announced today that his campaign has earned the endorsements of State Attorney Monique Worrell, former Gainesville City Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos, Sunrise Movement Gainesville, and Florida Progressives for Democracy in America.
The endorsements reflect growing progressive momentum behind Fields’ campaign and a broad coalition of leaders, local voices, and grassroots organizations backing his fight for working families across Marion and Alachua counties.
Fields, who grew up in Ocala, is running in a district that includes parts of Marion and Alachua counties. His campaign is focused on lowering costs, expanding opportunity, protecting Florida’s future, and building a state government that answers to working people instead of corporate and lobbyist power.
“I’m honored to have the support of leaders and organizers who understand what is at stake in this race,” said Fields. “This campaign is about whether working people finally get a voice in Tallahassee that is willing to fight for them. We are building a coalition rooted in affordability, justice, climate action, and a government that puts people first.”
State Attorney Monique Worrell endorsed Fields, citing his commitment to service, accountability, opportunity, and working families. For Fields, the endorsement also marks a full-circle moment. He served as a campaign fellow on Worrell’s historic 2020 campaign after first hearing her speak at a Black Lives Matter rally earlier that year.
“I am proud to endorse Antione Fields for Florida House District 21,” said Worrell. “Antione Fields is a leader who understands the importance of service, accountability, and fighting for opportunities that strengthen our communities. Throughout his work and leadership, he has demonstrated a commitment to advocating for working families, investing in young people, and ensuring that every voice is heard.”
“As State Attorney, I have seen firsthand how critical strong leadership is when it comes to building safer communities, expanding access to opportunity, and restoring trust in our institutions,” Worrell continued. “Antione Fields brings the vision, integrity, and determination needed to move District 21 forward.”
“Monique Worrell’s 2020 campaign was one of the first campaigns that showed me what bold, people-centered leadership could look like in Florida,” said Fields. “I heard her speak at a Black Lives Matter rally that year, joined her campaign as a fellow, and saw firsthand how powerful it can be when a campaign is rooted in justice, accountability, and the people most often ignored by our political system. To have her support now as I run for the Florida House means a great deal.”
Former Gainesville City Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos also endorsed Fields, pointing to his commitment to progressive values and working families across House District 21.
“I’m proud to endorse Antione Fields for State Representative because he shares the progressive values our community needs in Tallahassee,” said Hayes-Santos. “Antione understands that working families deserve lower housing costs, affordable healthcare, and a protected environment, and I believe he will be a strong voice for them across House District 21.”
Fields said Hayes-Santos’ support is especially meaningful because of his record fighting for affordability, sustainability, and progressive local government in Gainesville.
“Adrian has spent years fighting for a more affordable, sustainable, and equitable Gainesville,” said Fields. “I’m grateful to have his support as we build a campaign rooted in the needs of working people across Gainesville, Ocala, and every community in House District 21.”
Sunrise Movement Gainesville, a youth-led climate organization, also endorsed Fields, adding the support of young organizers fighting for climate justice and a livable future.
“Young people know exactly what’s at stake in this election because we are the ones who will live with the lasting consequences of what our political leaders do next,” said Fields. “Our generation has been handed a climate crisis, a housing crisis, a healthcare crisis, and a political system where corporations and lobbyists have more influence than working people. That has to change.”
Florida Progressives for Democracy in America also announced its support for Fields, further strengthening the coalition of progressive leaders, organizations, and grassroots advocates backing his campaign.
Fields said his refusal to accept corporate PAC or lobbyist money is central to the campaign’s message.
“People deserve to know exactly who their representative works for,” said Fields. “I’m not taking corporate PAC or lobbyist money because I’m not running to serve the powerful interests that already have too much control in Tallahassee. I’m running to serve the people of House District 21.”
Fields is a former legislative aide and now a Senior Manager at Common Cause. The Democratic primary election for Florida House District 21 will be held on August 18, 2026.
More information about Antione Fields and his campaign is available at FieldsForFlorida.com.
Well now I know who not to vote for.
““Adrian has spent years fighting for a more affordable, sustainable, and equitable Gainesville,” said Fields. “I’m grateful to have his support as we build a campaign rooted in the needs of working people across Gainesville”
Working people? Really? What about the ones that don’t want to work? You know like all the homeless, drug addicts, mentally ill, and criminals. I’m looking for someone who represents the working and taxpaying citizens.
The word “progressive” does NOT mean what they think it does. They think it means changing the rules to welcome malevolent forces, just to feed more lawyers and make cops act like social workers.
ACLUSPLCDNC 👹👺👿💩🤡
Hard pass on his so called “progressive values”. It’s easy to be generous with taxpayer money. Spend your own money and then we can talk about “values”.
Adrian Hayes-Santos…who?
Is this the same person who was involved in GNV’s passage of a food waste ordinance in 2022, yet to be implemented, but hasn’t been heard from or seen since then?
Nobody should be fooled by this foolish endorsement.
A bunch of indoctrinated commies those climate change youth…they’re not old enough to vote either…
Get a job and pay taxes and then we can talk…
the planet is fine..they’re pushing UN agenda .. also, all lives matter..
Good luck Mr Fields.
However what I recall of the ex city commissioners does nothing for me
Here’s a summary of what’s known about Adrian Hayes-Santos (Gainesville, FL City Commissioner) on these two topics:
Commissioner Pay
In December 2022, the Gainesville City Commission voted 4-1 to nearly double commissioner salaries — from $37,000 to $71,000 and the mayor’s salary from $47,000 to $89,000, set to take effect October 1, 2023. Hayes-Santos, whose term was ending in January, voted in favor. He argued that the low salary kept the pool of candidates limited to the wealthy or retired: “So what it leans more to is people who are wealthier or people who are retired who can take the time to be able to be a city commissioner.”
However, in March 2023, the new commission reversed course, voting 5-2 to keep commissioner pay the same rather than move forward with the near-doubling. Only Commissioners Reina Saco and Casey Willits voted to keep the raise. Hayes-Santos was no longer on the commission at that point.
Repealed Housing Ordinances
Housing was a hot-button issue in Gainesville after a trio of ordinances were passed 4-3 by the previous City Commission (which included Hayes-Santos) before being repealed 4-3 by the incoming commission in early 2023.
Hayes-Santos was a strong advocate for those housing reforms while in office and a realtor ( on the low down) He voted for the comprehensive plan changes and argued more housing was needed to address the housing crisis, saying “every candidate who took a more pro-housing approach won” in the elections. He also pushed back on critics who sued the city over the changes, calling it “disappointing to see them using up city resources to stop housing affordability in our community.”
In short, Hayes-Santos was a pro-housing, pro-pay-raise commissioner whose signature policies were ultimately rolled back after he left office.
Thank goodness his advocacy, that lacked community consensus, fell apart.