# Karla Hernández-Mats

Karla Hernández-Mats (born 1978 or 1979) is an American union leader. She was chosen by Charlie Crist to be the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor of Florida in 2022. She and Crist lost to incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis and Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez.

## Early Life and Education

Hernández-Mats was born in Miami to Honduran immigrants, and attended Miami-Dade County Public Schools. After graduating from high school, she went to Honduras to do humanitarian work. She was the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University in emotionally handicapped education and a master’s degree in business management from St. Thomas University.

## Career

Hernandez-Mats began her career at Hialeah Middle Community School, where she served as a special education teacher for 10 years. She was named the school's Teacher of the Year in 2010.
Hernández-Mats became secretary-treasurer of United Teachers of Dade in 2013. Three years later, she was elected as president, becoming the organization’s first Hispanic leader. During her tenure as president, she was credited with spearheading the campaign to pass Referendum 362, a tax referendum to support teacher pay. With the additional funding created by passing the referendum, the union secured pay raises for teachers and support staff in 2023.
In 2024, Hernandez-Mats led an effort to avoid the decertification of United Teachers of Dade after Governor DeSantis signed a law requiring all unions representing public employees prove at least 60% of its members are paying dues each year to be recertified.

## 2022 Florida Lt. gubernatorial election

In August 2022, Hernández-Mats was chosen as Charlie Christ's running mate in his bid for governor against incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis and Lt. Govenor Jeanette Nuñez. The bid was her first run for public office. Crist and Hernández-Mats were defeated by DeSantis and Nuñez, receiving only 40% of the vote.

## Political Positions
### Immigration

In 2017, Hernández-Mats was arrested while demonstrating in Washington, D.C. in opposition to President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program be phased out and replaced.

### Education

Hernández-Mats opposed a bill signed by Gov. DeSantis that allowed any parent to receive a voucher toward private or home schooling, saying the bill could cripple public schools. She also called for more accountability for charter and private schools that received state funding.
Hernández-Mats was an outspoken opponent of rules Gov. DeSantis signed into law in 2022 that limited discussions of race in the classroom and banned conversations about LGBTQ+ issues in grades three and younger.

### Pandemic Response

During the pandemic, she encouraged people to wear masks and hosted a pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic.
Hernández-Mats advocated delaying students’ return to school in the fall of 2020 and continuing mask mandates in 2021, in defiance of DeSantis’ administration.

## Personal Life

Hernández-Mats is married, and has two children.

## Electoral History

2022 Florida gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ron DeSantis (incumbent) Jeanette Nuñez (incumbent) | 4,614,210 | 59.4 |
| | Democratic | Charlie Crist Karla Hernandez | 3,106,313 | 40.0 |
| | Independent | Carmen Jackie Gimenez Kyle "KC" Gibson | 31,577 | 0.4 |
| | Libertarian | Hector Roos Jerry "Tub" Rorabaugh | 19,299 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,771,399 | 100.0 |