Open future in politics for Gwen Graham

TALLAHASSEE — Gwen Graham’s optimism might seem unlikely to those who don’t know the former congresswoman, who lost a crowded gubernatorial primary to Andrew Gillum in August and then watched Republican Ron DeSantis win the general election.

In a wide-ranging interview, Gwen Graham, 55, reflected on her primary loss — “It’s painful” — and her new role as a member of the board of Ruth’s List, an organization that backs Democratic female candidates in Florida.

The position will allow her to keep close contact with major Democratic contributors, remain active in Florida politics and use her experience to recruit and mentor other women.

Q: Tell us about your new role at Ruth’s List and why that’s important to you.

A: I never thought I was going to run for office. It was never a life plan of mine. It wasn’t until 2013 when I realized what I love to do, and what I know I’m passionate about, is to help people, to make a difference in people’s lives, where you can. I’d seen through the years my father [former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham and his ability to help people and his connection with people. So, out of the blue, I decided to run for Congress. I realized right off the bat the challenges that women have to put

themselves forward to run for office. Ruth’s List was a group that remains, to this day, devoted to helping women run for office.

Q: What do women bring to politics that’s different from men?

I think sometimes too much of running is putting somebody up on a pedestal, making them a celebrity, or whatever. No. No. We’re all human beings and all valued for different reasons. How does someone who’s running for office use that opportunity to be there for someone?

… From my own personal experience, my ability to sit down with people that disagree with me and actually have a cogent conversation about what needs to be done, where we disagree, where we can find agreement, those conversations need to be going on every single day here in the state capital, in Washington, D.C., anywhere where decisions are being made. Because it’s a whole lot better to get 80 percent of what you want than nothing.

I saw it in Congress,

I think sometimes too much of running is putting somebody up on a pedestal, making them a celebrity, or whatever. No. No. We’re all human beings and all valued for different reasons.

that women across party lines could talk to one another, and there was a collegiality that was present between Republican and Democrats in Congress, women. We need to build on that.

Q: Is it painful for this to be the “year of the woman” and to have lost?

A.: Any time you face a loss, it’s a sadness. But I am a glass half-full, silver-lining person. I can always find the silver lining. I’m looking forward to learning . ... I am so proud of the campaign we ran. If you had asked me five years ago if I would be running for governor, this was not a life plan for me. But I do know that the campaign we ran, the people that I’ve met all across the state of Florida, it’s a wonderful opportunity to be able to be a voice for what I believe in, which is what elected office is about, hopefully, bringing together people who care about the state of Florida and want to make a difference for the state.

… I do think that the primary, if you want to dissect it, Jeff Green getting into the primary and dumping millions of dollars in negative ads against me, and Philip Levine, those negative ads had an impact. It was very close, at the end of the day. … So, it was the negative ads. You have to look at every different factor, but I was really the only one who had significant negatives. … It was out of our control.

Q: What’s next for you? A: I don’t think anything is off the table. But I’m going to take my time and use this time wisely.

: Are you thinking about running for governor again?

A: It would have been a real opportunity for the state. And it really is hard. … Nov. 6 was not a good day for the state of Florida.

Q: What do Democrats have to do to regain power? What should you all have learned from the 2018 gubernatorial election?

A: It’s painful that we didn’t win the governor’s race. Let’s be honest. It’s painful. …

Whether you’re a far-left Democrat, a moderate Democrat, a conservative, whatever, we’re Democrats. In my opinion, the decisions we would make, no matter where you are on that spectrum, are going to be better for the state of Florida than what Ron DeSantis is going to be doing.

We all have to realize that we’ve got to support one another. I got criticized for being somebody who was willing to put aside political labels and work together. .… I think the Democratic Party really needs to do some soul-searching on how do we make sure that we’re putting those candidates forward that can’t just win in August, but can win in November.

How do we elect a candidate that can win in November?