TALLAHASSEE — With the February 22 Democratic primary approaching, the race between Calvin Beningham and Paletuatoa Peniamina has taken a more combative turn. Beningham, who is trailing in recent polls, has launched a healthcare-focused television advertisement in the Jacksonville–Tallahassee market that directly names Peniamina and questions his transparency and leadership priorities. The advertisement features Florida families in medical settings and transitions to footage of Peniamina at various rallies. A narrator asserts that Democrats “deserve more than speeches” and emphasizes the need for “transparency” and “accountability.” Beningham then appears, pledging to expand Medicaid, lower prescription drug costs, and protect access to care. The ad concludes by highlighting his capability to defeat incumbent Governor Samuel Sharp in the general election. Peniamina has concentrated on mobilizing liberal voters through rallies that address healthcare, civil rights, climate change, and student debt. His approach has energized the progressive base, allowing him to maintain a polling advantage over Beningham. Beningham's campaign is making a pragmatic appeal to liberals who are concerned about both policy and electability. His team argues that defeating Sharp will require building coalitions that extend beyond the traditional Democratic base. The urgency of this strategy is reflected in Beningham's recent ad, which aims to instill doubt among late-deciding voters regarding Peniamina's leadership. The Jacksonville–Tallahassee market was strategically chosen to target highly engaged Democratic voters in the capital region. Peniamina’s supporters have dismissed Beningham's ad as a desperate late-stage attack from a trailing campaign, asserting that bold leadership is essential for driving voter turnout. As the primary date nears, electability has become a central theme in the race. Early polling for the general election shows Sharp leading against either Democrat, although analysts note that primary fragmentation often narrows as candidates consolidate support. The final days leading up to the primary are expected to intensify, with both candidates likely to ramp up their efforts to secure votes.