In a decisive blow to the “parental rights” movement, two Florida school board candidates endorsed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the anti-LGBTQ+ group Moms for Liberty were defeated in Tuesday’s elections, while a third heads to a runoff. Of the 23 school board endorsements made by DeSantis, only five won, 12 lost, and six advanced to a November runoff. In Pinellas County, incumbents Laura Hine and Eileen Long successfully defended their seats against far-right challengers backed by DeSantis and Moms for Liberty. Despite an aggressive campaign from Moms for Liberty, who argued for a “parental rights” agenda, Hine won 69% of the vote against Danielle Marolf's 30%, while Long defeated Erika Picard with 54% to 45%. A third candidate, Katie Blaxberg, who opposed the Moms for Liberty agenda, secured 34% of the vote, forcing a runoff against Stacy Geier, who received 37%. Blaxberg criticized the “parental rights” activists, saying, “The misinformation… and the intent to… place mistrust in our teachers… people are tired of it.” Board president Hine emphasized the importance of stability in education, saying, “We have got to stay focused on the work at hand.” Moms for Liberty had been attempting a comeback after scandals involving their co-founder Bridget Ziegler, but their influence seems to be waning. #Queer Up South Florida & Florida