Washington (CNN) A Republican congressional candidate is facing a backlash after saying that Puerto Ricans who moved to Florida in the wake of Hurricane Maria last year should not be able to register to vote in the state. Ward replied by saying, "First of all, I don't think they should be allowed to register to vote. It's not lost on me that, I think, the Democrat party's really hoping that they can change the voting registers in a lot of counties and districts, and I don't think they should be allowed to do that." The candidate went on to say that "we should be looking to put the Puerto Ricans back in their homes. The comment, which Ward made at a candidate forum last month, has generated criticism from fellow Republicans.

Source: CNN May 22, 2018 21:10 UTC