Racism immediately became an issue in the Florida governor's race Wednesday as both nominees made predictions: The Democrat said voters aren't looking for a misogynist, racist or bigot, while the Republican said voters shouldn't "monkey this up" by choosing his African-American opponent.
Only hours after their primary election victories, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis made clear the race is going to be a nasty contest between two candidates who couldn't be more opposed politically.
Asked if he's afraid of President Donald Trump's support for DeSantis, Gillum told CNN that his race is about uniting the state.
"I actually believe that Florida and its rich diversity are going to be looking for a governor who's going to bring us together, not divide us. Not misogynist, not racist, not bigots, they're going to be looking for a governor who is going to appeal to our higher aspirations as a state, "Gillum said. "DeSantis can do the bidding of big business and big lobbyists and Donald Trump and his divisive rhetoric."
Meanwhile, on Fox News, DeSantis called Gillum an "articulate" candidate, but said "the last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting this state. That is not going to work. It's not going to be good for Florida."
Democrats immediately decried DeSantis' comment as racist.
"That was more than a dog-whistle," said U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat. "That was absolutely a racist, disgusting statement. I don't think there's any other way to interpret it."
The DeSantis campaign clarified that his comments were directed at Gillum's policies, not the candidate himself. "To characterize it as anything else is absurd," his spokesman Stephen Lawson said.
DeSantis came from behind with the help of Trump to beat Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who campaigned longer, raised more money and built party establishment support.
Gillum upset a field of five that included former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, who was hoping to become the state's first female governor and win the office once held by her father, Bob Graham. Gillum spent the least of the major candidates, but won the hearts of those who consider themselves progressives, and got a late boost from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
They're seeking to succeed Gov. Rick Scott, who can't run for re-election because of term limits and is instead challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
In a state sure to be a battleground in the 2020 presidential vote, the governor's race will essentially be a referendum on Trump.
"We're going to make clear to the rest of the world that the dark days that we've been under coming out of Washington, that the derision and the division that have been coming out of our White House, that right here in the state of Florida that we are going to remind this nation of what is truly the American way," Gillum told cheering supporters.
DeSantis also came out fighting, criticizing Gillum as "way, way, way too liberal for the state of Florida."
"That is not what Floridians want," DeSantis declared.
DeSantis based nearly his entire primary run Trump and acknowledged his endorsement was the key.
"With one tweet, that kind of put me on the map," DeSantis said.
Trump weighed in Wednesday on Twitter saying that not only did DeSantis win but that "his opponent in November is his biggest dream." He called Gillum a "failed socialist mayor" who has "allowed crime and many other problems to flourish in the city."
Tallahassee has had one of the Florida's highest crime rates in recent years though it has been going down.
DeSantis, who turns 40 next month, is a former Navy lawyer who won his seat in 2012 running as a Washington outsider. He ran for the Senate in 2016 but dropped out when Republican Sen. Marco Rubio shut down his presidential campaign and ran for re-election. He entered the governor's race a month after Trump's December tweet that he would make "a GREAT governor." Later Trump held a rally for him in Tampa.
Gillum, meanwhile, relied on a grassroots campaign in the big-money Democratic primary. Former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine poured $29 million of his personal wealth into the race. Billionaire Jeff Greene spent about $38 million of his own money. Orlando-area businessman Chris King also ran, and finished last.
Gillum was a 23-year-old Florida A&M student when he became the youngest person elected to the Tallahassee City Commission in 2003. He was elected mayor in 2014. He's a gifted public speaker who did well in debates, often receiving the most applause, but the FBI is investigating Tallahassee city hall for alleged corruption. Gillum has said he's not a target.
Their policy differences are pronounced: DeSantis is pro-gun, and anti-tax; Gillum boasts about beating the National Rifle Association in a lawsuit and is calling for an increase in corporate taxes.
Gillum didn't make race an issue in the primary. But he acknowledged in a recent interview that it would be "big" to be Florida's first black governor.
"I have been really slow to try to think on it because it's too big," he said. "There will absolutely be a part of this that I can't even put words to around what it might mean for my children and other people's kids. Especially growing up for them in the age of Donald Trump."
