FLORIDA: Bernie-Backed Democrat Upsets Gov Primary

The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reports:

Democrats picked Andrew Gillum, the charismatic liberal activist and mayor of Tallahassee, as the party’s nominee for governor. It was an historic pick. Gillum is the first black nominee for Florida governor from either major party.

Nominating Gillum also represents a strategic break for Democrats. For most of the last 20 years, the party has nominated centrist candidates for governor, hoping they could appeal to middle-of-the-road voters and Republicans. It hasn’t worked, and Democrats have lost every governor’s race for the past 20 years.

On Tuesday, primary voters rejected Gwen Graham, who was the most centrist candidate, and Philip Levine, who has described himself as a “radical centrist.” Gillum backers thought his outspoken progressive views and charismatic speaking style would excite the Democratic Party base.

Team Bernie gonna take a big victory lap for Gillum. But Steyer also put in a lot of $$$ and organizational muscle https://t.co/yYM8uhDsZi

— Sam Stein (@samstein) August 29, 2018

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum projected to win Democratic primary for Florida governor. Gillum is the first African American to win a major-party nomination for governor in Florida. https://t.co/SFerY3l9Jp

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 29, 2018

Andrew Gillum is now the first African American nominee for governor in Florida.

Gillum pulled off a historic upset against Gwen Graham. He’ll now face Republican Ron DeSantis — backed by Donald Trump — in November’s general election. More live results: https://t.co/IkKak6HOBs pic.twitter.com/La1fb8Pvgf

— POLITICO (@politico) August 29, 2018

In an upset, Progressive Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum has won the Florida Democratic primary for governor, defeating former Rep. Gwen Graham, the establishment favorite. He’ll face Trump-backed Rep. Ron DeSantis, who also beat an establishment-backed candidate, in November.

— NPR (@NPR) August 29, 2018