Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who secured the GOP's nomination in the Florida gubernatorial election Tuesday, has little fear about his Democratic opponent. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, DeSantis said, is "the most liberal candidate that the Democratic Party has ever nominated in the state of Florida by a country mile in a governor’s race.” His message is unlikely to resonate among all Florida voters, DeSantis predicted.
Gillum did pull off an impressive win, though, one that surprised even him. DeSantis gave his opponent props for capitalizing on the grassroots energy, but noted that the Republican received twice as many votes in his primary than Gillum did. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) endorsed him and he got the blessing of progressive darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Yet, the "majority of Democratic primary voters rejected him," DeSantis noted. So too will the state of Florida.
"He’s much too liberal for Florida," DeSantis said.
“(Gillum) wants to abolish ICE; he wants a billion-dollar tax increase; he wants a single-payer health care system in Florida, which would bankrupt the state. I’m trying to make Florida even better. He wants to make Florida Venezuela,” DeSantis said, adding that Gillum’s tenure as mayor has been “absolutely disastrous.”
President Trump, who supported DeSantis during the primary, congratulated him and told him he has nothing to worry about come November.
Not only did Congressman Ron DeSantis easily win the Republican Primary, but his opponent in November is his biggest dream....a failed Socialist Mayor named Andrew Gillum who has allowed crime & many other problems to flourish in his city. This is not what Florida wants or needs!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2018
Gillum later responded.
What our state and country needs is decency, hope, and leadership. If you agree, join us at https://t.co/fm0ODFFGWU. Also, @ me next time, @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/59dQy8RLsm
— Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) August 29, 2018