Florida Governor’s Election

Well, the time is upon us, so I just as well start blogging about the election. It will come as no surprise that I’m recommending you vote for Andrew Gillium.

There is little doubt that race will play a role in this election. It will be hard for a Black man to get elected governor of Florida, especially a progressive Democrat. Republicans have been in control of Florida for nearly 20 years. The nominee-apparent for the Democrats had been Gwen Graham. Graham has a strong political pedigree in Florida and had no problem raising money. She was referred to as a moderate, but that term is a problem for progressive Democrats. The Democratic party has, for years, been inching to the right, trying to capture “moderate” Republicans. So, when one now refers to a centrist or moderate Democrat, one is really referring to what would have been a moderate Republican 10 years ago.

It is obviously not a strategy that is working. (See November 2016) Democrats in general and progressives especially have found some enthusiasm, but have shown their lack of enthusiasm for milquetoast corporate Democratic party candidates and policy positions, and seem to be seeking to elect true progressives. Andrew Gillium took advantage of that enthusiasm and pulled out a long-shot in the primary.

Gillium is an unabashed support of public education, equality, and healthcare for all. A primary attack front for the Republicans is a proposal to raise corporate taxes in order to properly pay public school teachers. But he wants to raise it to a modest 7.75%…oh the humanity. Somehow, businesses have decided they shouldn’t have to pay any taxes, and Republicans are leading the charge to make that so. He recognizes that climate change is real and is a real and present danger, while Rick Scott banned the use of those words. There is no state that will be hit harder by climate change and rising sea levels than Florida. He is in favor of the legalization of marijuana, and increased gun control.

His competitor, Ron DeSantis, started out the day after the campaign blowing a pretty obvious racist dog-whistle. During his entire public life, he’s been against LGBT equality and marriage equality and supports letting businesses turn away LGBT people. He doesn’t think women are smart enough to make their own health and reproductive decisions and voted NO to the Violence Against Women Act. He’s a big supporter of Trump, and Trump’s endorsed him.

So, not only is Mayor Gillium the right choice for Florida right now, Ron DeSantis is exactly the wrong choice.