Has there ever been a first lady from Florida? Cheryl Hines of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ could be

Following Leap Day last week, Americans are seeing another special event that only occurs every four years. Though it might not have as positive as a reputation.

Super Tuesday has long been viewed as the day that could significantly alter the course of the presidential primaries since the most delegates are at stake.

According to USA TODAY, polls indicate Trump is the front-runner in the race, polling well above his remaining rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Biden on the other hand, as the presidential incumbent, is expected to be the Democratic presidential nominee.

But what about the third-party candidates? While none have ever won a presidential election, many have made names for themselves for their campaign issues and how their votes can impact the overall election.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s name has been thrown around over the last year, and he's still a candidate. Here's what to know about Kennedy and his connection to Florida through his superstar partner.

Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 69, is politician and environmental lawyer, also known as the nephew of America’s 35th President, John F. Kennedy, and the son of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.

"(Kennedy) launched his presidential campaign in April 2023. But the longtime environmental activist announced in October he would drop his Democratic bid and re-enter the race for the White House as an independent," Florida TODAY's biography states. "The junior Kennedy has called the traditional two-party system 'rigged' for Americans and is campaigning on a platform targeting institutions such as pharmaceutical and tech companies."

Does Florida vote on Super Tuesday?

Florida is not one of the states with primary elections on Super Tuesday.

When do we vote for president in Florida?

Florida’s 2024 presidential preference primary election takes place on Tuesday, March 19, which is a closed primary. This means voters can only vote for a candidate to represent the party they are registered with.

Here are the states and territories voting on Super Tuesday:

• Alabama

• Alaska (GOP only)

• Arkansas

• California

• Colorado

• Maine

• Massachusetts

• Minnesota

• North Carolina

• Oklahoma

• Tennessee

• Texas

• U.S. territory of American Samoa

• Utah

• Vermont

• Virginia

Who is Cheryl Hines? Where in Florida is Hines from?

Cheryl Hines is an actress and comedian, most known for portraying Larry David's wife Cheryl on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm."  Winning two Primetime Emmy nominations for the role, she has also starred in films like "Herbie: Fully Loaded" (2005), "Cake" (2005), "RV" (2006) and "A Bad Moms Christmas" (2017).

Hines was born in Miami Beach but in a 2007 interview with the Orlando Sentinel, she shared she grew up in Tallahassee.

In Florida's capital city, she first explored her acting chops in the choral and drama departments at Leon High School and at Young Actors Theatre.

After graduating, she pursued a degree in arts from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Hines married Kennedy in August 2014, a second marriage for her and a third for him. She credits her on-screen husband with introducing the pair, saying David introduced her to Kennedy in 2006 at a ski weekend fundraiser for the Waterkeeper Alliance.

The pair wouldn't reconnect until 2010. In honor of their wedding anniversary in 2020, he dedicated a since-deleted Instagram post to his wife.

"Thanks for the unimaginable happiness, for your wise and compassionate counsel, for your generous spirit, for your faithful companionship in joy and grief, for the love you’ve given our children. And for the endless laughter," he wrote.

What has Hines said about Kennedy's presidential run?

Hines has been outspoken about her thoughts and encouragement for Kennedy's president bid, even joining him for campaign events and townhalls.

In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Hines stressed the support she has for husband’s political aspirations and understands her growing role in the campaign.

“If you’re asking me, ‘Has this been my dream, to be first lady?’ I would say, ‘No.’ But if someone said to me: ‘Guess what? You’re going to be first lady tomorrow,’ I would say, ‘Great. Let’s do it. I can’t wait to see what this looks like,''" Hines said. "When I look at it like that, I think, ‘Wow, what an extraordinary situation.’ And if that’s what life hands you, then you accept it and experience it for everything it has to offer.”

However, there have been some rocky moments over the past few years, particularly when he made comparisons between the Holocaust and the efforts to vaccinate Americans against COVID. In a statement posted to X in 2022, Hines said she did not agree with his sentiments.

Most recently in Feb. 28 episode of "Watch What Happens Live" with Andy Cohen, Hines talked about David's public decision to not back Kennedy and why she's still friends with others who don't back her husband.

“I mean, I try to let (criticism roll right off),” she said. “But everybody can think the way they want to think and support who they want to support. I’m not gonna be mad at somebody if they don’t agree with me or if they don’t see it my way. I mean, it’s not always easy.”

All controversy aside, Hines’ "Curb Your Enthusiasm" co-star Susie Essman, and fellow guest on WWHL that night, said that Hines would be “the classiest First Lady that ever hit the White House” if Kennedy were to win the 2024 election.

Has there ever been a first lady from Florida?

No, there has not been a first lady, or president, to hail Florida. If Kennedy ends up in the White House, Hines would be the first.

The furthest South a first lady has ever hailed from Georgia, where both Woodrow Wilson's wives — Ellen Axson Wilson and Margaret Woodrow Wilson — grew up in the late 1800s and 100 years later, Jimmy Carter's wife Rosalynn would grow up.

Former First Lady Melanie Trump has ties to Florida

While Hines is a native Floridian, she's not the only one with connections to the Sunshine State.

Former first lady Melania Trump has been connected to the Palm Beach community for years, residing at the 20-acre Mar-a-Lago estate. Despite being absent from Donald's campaigning and court appearances, many reports claim that her focus has been parenting their teenage son, Barron.

In January, the Trump family gathered for the funeral service for her mother, Amalija Knavss, at Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach. Knavss subsequently died Jan. 9 at the age of 78.

Where is Kennedy at right now in his campaign?

Kennedy is currently on the ballot in one state, Utah, and his campaign has gathered enough signatures to appear on the ballots in New Hampshire and Hawaii.

Last month, Super PAC American Values 2024 said in a news release they had gathered the necessary signatures to secure ballot access for Kennedy in Arizona and Georgia.

“The grassroots energy and momentum give us more confidence than ever in our ability to knock out the remaining states on our list of states quickly,” PAC co-founder Tony Lyons said in a statement on Feb. 26.

CNN reported these two states that helped Biden defeat Trump in the 2020 election by very narrow margins.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has connection to Florida with wife Cheryl Hines