Democrat Andrew Gillum, the charismatic liberal and mayor of Tallahassee, shocked his fellow Democrats with a stunning primary victory Tuesday night and now has the historic opportunity to be the first black governor in Florida’s history.
“I sincerely believe that what is going to deliver us to victory is that there are hard working people in this state who think they deserve a voice in their government and we’re going to give it to them,” Gillum said Tuesday night in Tallahassee.
Gillum rode a surge of liberal support from young people and African Americans to become the first black nominee for Florida governor from either major party.
Gillum is the fifth of seven children born to a construction worker and a school bus driver in 1979. He attended Florida A&M University where he met his wife R. Jai Howard. In 2003, he was elected as a city commissioner in Tallahassee, Florida, and held the post for 10 years. In 2014, he was elected mayor of the state’s capital and is still at that post.
