FFRF Action Fund’s “Theocrat of the Week” is a Florida state representative running for reelection who claims his “radical atheist” opponent’s views “should disqualify her from holding office.”
Florida state Rep. David Smith is a three-time Republican incumbent representing Florida’s 38th District. He is up against an open humanist, Sarah Henry, in a rematch from 2022. Smith is working overtime to depict Henry as a “radical” atheist who is “unfit to serve” in the Florida House.
On behalf of the American Humanist Association (AHA) as a communications officer, Henry argued on Fox News that a Christian cross honoring veterans does not belong on public land but would be fine on private property. Henry also said in a 2019 AHA press release that public school staff should not lead nonoptional prayers before football and softball games.
Using these and other quotes, the many mailers Smith’s campaign has funded to vilify Henry are filled with claims that misrepresent Henry’s past work and opinions. These include “Sarah Henry is so radical, she said the Christian cross is a symbol of discrimination and exclusion” and “Sarah Henry is so radical, so extreme, her hateful views of Christians should disqualify her from holding office.” Another mailer reads: “Not only does radical ATHEIST activist SARAH HENRY HATE CHRISTIANS, she makes dozens of hateful and dangerous remarks that make her unfit to serve.”
Another mailer quotes an article in The Humanist written by Henry in 2018: “Young people, and especially young women, have begun to turn to paganism and witchcraft in attempt to find identity, forge solidarity, and, sometimes to take political action.” The mailer conveniently leaves out Henry writing in the same article, “I’m not convinced of the power of hexes, crystals, or tarot cards,” making it seem like Henry endorses witchcraft and paganism. In fact, a separate mailer claims that Henry has made “comments about witchcraft being something young girls should turn to.” This is, of course, not true.
Henry told The Friendly Atheist that Smith is running one television advertisement that his campaign is spending approximately $1.7 million on. The commercial describes Henry’s supposed “red flags,” arguing that Henry “repeatedly attacks people of faith.” Among the listed red flags, the commercial falsely claims that Henry called Christians “white nationalists.” Smith’s campaign is referencing Henry saying in a 2019 interview that “religious dominionism, white nationalism and male supremacy are inextricably intertwined.”
While talking about Smith’s smear campaign with the Friendly Atheist, Henry said, “It’s disqualifying” for Smith to make these assertions and that she is “really proud of the work [she] did with AHA.” She also noted that she will not use her time in office to advance her personal religious views.
Smith is a Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ally who advocates for religious private school vouchers and supports the parental rights movement in the state. On his campaign website, he claims that he will fight against “discussion of gender identity” and “indoctrination and inappropriate curriculum.” Smith also believes that “abortion should not just be another form of birth control.”
The state representative has certainly earned his “theocrat” title with his campaign materials that demonize his humanist opponent for her innocuous support of the separation of state and church.
FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.