Florida race fired up by monkey comments
Trump-backed Republican accused of racism as candidates’ war or words begins
Racism has immediately become an issue in the Florida governor’s race as both nominees made predictions: The Democrat said voters aren’t looking for a misogynist, racist or bigot, while the Republican said voters shouldn’t “monkey this up” by choosing his African-American opponent.
Only hours after their primary election victories, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and US Congressman Ron DeSantis made clear the highprofile race in the nation’s largest political battleground state was going to be nasty. Gillum, a far-left Democrat seeking to become the state’s first black governor, and DeSantis, a Trump-endorsed Republican, are political opposites, both seeking to encourage turnout among the party’s most ardent supporters.
Asked if he’s afraid of President Donald Trump’s support for DeSantis, Gillum told CNN that his race is about uniting the state and that voters want someone is who “not misogynist, not racist, not bigots”. In an interview with the Associated Press he added: “I think the Florida electorate is going to reject the politics of division . . . We’re going to try to compel and appeal to the higher values of the people of the state of Florida.”
Meanwhile, on Fox News, DeSantis called Gillum an “articulate” candidate, but said: “The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting this state. That is not going to work. It’s not going to be good for Florida.”
Democrats immediately decried DeSantis’ comment as racist.
“That was more than a dogwhistle,” said US Congresswoman Lois Frankel. “That was absolutely a racist, disgusting statement. I don’t think there’s any other way to interpret it.”
But the DeSantis campaign clarified that his comments were directed at Gillum’s policies, not the candidate himself. “To characterise it as anything else is absurd,” his spokesman Stephen Lawson said.
Gillum in his AP interview called the comment a form of “gutter politics” that he said comes from the “Trump school” of trying to “fire up the base”.
The exchange between the two campaigns came less than a day after a primary outcome that appeared unthinkable a few months ago. DeSantis came from behind in the GOP primary with the help of Trump to beat Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who campaigned longer, raised more money and built party establishment support.
Gillum upset a field of five that included former US Congresswoman Gwen Graham, who was hoping to become the state’s first female governor and win the office once held by her father, Bob Graham. 39-year-old Democratic candidate for governor in Florida
If he wins the November election he would become the state’s first black governor
Backs “Medicare for all”, impeaching Trump, an increase in corporate taxes and standing up to the National Rifle Association
In 2014 elected mayor of Tallahassee
In 2003 as a 23-year-old became the youngest person elected to the Tallahassee City Commission 39-year-old Republican candidate for governor in Florida
Entered the governor's race in January after Donald Trump tweeted in December that he would make “a GREAT governor”.
Pro-gun, and anti-tax
A former Navy lawyer who won his seat in Congress in 2012 running as a Washington outsider
Gillum spent the least of the major candidates, but won the hearts of those who consider themselves progressives, and got a late boost from Senator Bernie Sanders.
They’re seeking to succeed Governor Rick Scott, who can’t run for re-election because of term limits.
In a state sure to be a battleground in the 2020 presidential vote, the governor’s race will essentially be a referendum on Trump. Gillum in his remarks to supporters on election night said he and supporters would seek to counter the “dark days that we’ve been under coming out of Washington”. DeSantis also came out fighting, criticising Gillum as “way, way, way too liberal for the state of Florida”. “That is not what Floridians want,” DeSantis declared.
DeSantis based nearly his entire primary run on Trump and acknowledged his endorsement was the key.
“With one tweet, that kind of put me on the map,” DeSantis said.
Trump weighed in yesterday on Twitter, saying that not only did DeSantis win but that “his opponent in November is his biggest dream”. He called Gillum a “failed socialist”.
Gillum brushed off Trump’s tweet, saying, “I’m a Democrat, but I have to tell you that not much of what Donald Trump says is actually based in fact. The President does not scare me. If he’s going to tweet at me he should @ me. And he ought to know he should be prepared to receive a response when appropriate.”
Andrew Gillum
Ron DeSantis