Democrat hopes to make history against Trump-backed foe in Fla.
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum upset a crowded field of well-funded candidates in Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial primary Tuesday, a step away from becoming the state’s first black governor. His surprise victory sets up a November showdown with Republican Rep. Ron DeSantis, a favorite of President Donald Trump.
Gillum’s victory could further energize black voters in a year when Democrats are already counting on high turnout among minorities to buoy the party in the November election. Gillum is the party’s third black gubernatorial nominee this year, along with Stacey Abrams in Georgia and Ben Jealous in Maryland.
DeSantis rode Trump’s endorsement to victory in the GOP race, underscoring the president’s broad appeal in Republican primaries. Trump cheered DeSantis’ victory on Twitter Tuesday night, writing: “Ron will be a fantastic Governor. On to November!”
In Arizona, Republican primary voters chose the establishment favorite, Rep. Martha McSally, to replace Trump’s most outspoken critic in the Senate, Jeff Flake, in a contest that evolved into a test of which candidate could embrace Trump most snugly. In the Arizona governor’s primary, Democrats again chose an outspoken progressive over a pragmatist. Elsewhere Tuesday, GOP voters in reliably Republican Oklahoma backed mortgage company owner Kevin Stitt over former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett in a runoff for the gubernatorial nomination. Stitt won in part by criticizing his opponent as insufficiently supportive of Trump.
Gillum came from behind in a crowded and diverse Democratic field. Former Rep. Gwen Graham, whose father, Bob Graham, served as governor, had been hoping to position herself to become the state’s first female governor.
Democrats also eyed congressional pickup opportunities in Florida as they try to flip control of the U.S. House. One of their best chances is in South Florida, where Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is retiring in a district that should favor Democrats. Donna Shalala, who served as President Bill Clinton’s Health and Human Services secretary, claimed the Democratic nomination in RosLehtinen’s district.
In Arizona, among those on the GOP Senate ballot was former state Sen. Kelli Ward, who tried unsuccessfully to unseat McCain in 2016. When McCain’s family said last week that he was discontinuing medical treatment, Ward speculated that the announcement was intended to hurt her campaign for Flake’s seat.
Ward apologized Monday, saying she was bemoaning media coverage rather than the family’s announcement.
“I do understand how many could have misconstrued my comments as insensitive, and for this I apologize,” Ward said.
Also running for the Senate nomination was former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the controversial immigration hardliner.
The winner of the GOP primary is likely to face Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, who had only token primary opposition.