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Black candidate wins Florida Democratic primary for governor

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Andrew Gillum (267180)
Andrew Gillum

Judging just the primaries, it’s obvious people are ready for change – big change – across the country. In yesterday’s primary in Florida, a Black man surprised everyone and won the Democratic primary for governor. If he wins in November against Republican candidate Ron DeSantis, who is backed by President Donald Trump, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum would become Florida’s first Black governor. It’s also happening in next door Georgia, where Stacey Abrams could be that state’s first female and first Black governor. In the crowded Democratic primary for governor, voters also considered former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, who was considered the early front-runner; former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine; Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene; and Orlando businessman Chris King. Graham, who represented a conservative north Florida district in Congress, has been in the race the longest, and early on was considered the front-runner. That status was challenged over the summer by Levine, who used nearly $27 million of his personal money to swamp Florida’s 10 expensive media markets starting in November, far earlier than any other candidate on TV. Gillum has been perceived as the most progressive Democrat in the race. The 39-year-old had the backing of longtime national Democratic donors Tom Steyer and George Soros, and a long list of liberal Hollywood celebrities. His campaign has been pushing the message of a late “surge” in recent weeks, but most public polling had him behind the top tier candidates.

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