DeSantis and Gillum: An Election Day Showdown

There are less five days left in the 2018 election cycle and the Florida governor’s race shows no signs of slowing down. Last week, Ron DeSantis squared off against Democratic opponent Andrew Gillum in the second and final debate of the election cycle. What the debate lacked in policy was made up for in negative attacks from both sides.

Both Andrew Gillum and Ron DeSantis are working overtime to ensure they bring home a win next month. From Trump landing in Fort Myers to Obama heading to Miami on Friday to campaign for Gillum shows the extent to which both parties do not want to lose on November 6th.

For DeSantis, Trump’s rally in Fort Myers was more for Trump than him. Florida has and will serve as the bellwether for Trump’s re-election efforts in 2020, and will serve as a referendum on the president.

Gillum on the other hand enjoyed an 11th hour surge thanks in large part to a Bernie Sanders endorsement during the primary. As such, he went on to win the primary election with one third of the vote and out paced fellow democratic opponent, former Miami Beach Mayor, Phillip Levine, in his own backyard. Hoping to maintain momentum, Obama will join Gillum at a campaign rally in Miami on Friday. Obama flipped Florida blue in 2012 by winning Miami, and this election will need the same results. In order for Gillum to a receive a promotion from Mayor to Governor he will need a strong turnout in the 305.

Throughout the campaign DeSantis has continued to drill down on national issues and waited until the last debate to release his health care plan. Meanwhile, Gillum has stumped on the environment and an increase in minimum wage with a promise to #BringItHome for not only Democrats, but Floridians as a whole. The difference in policy approaches and overall campaign strategy is stark, standing on polar opposites of the ideological spectrum.

The race for Governor is in a dead heat with recent polling showing Gillum holding a thin one point lead over DeSantis. It is clear this race will come down to election night. While some believe partisan voters will decide the election, I’m doubling down on non-partisan voters deciding the fate of the Governor’s race. Independent voters account for 27% of all registered voters in the Sunshine state, which is roughly 3.5 million people.

Included in the independent electorate are ex-members of the GOP, such as former Congressman David Jolly. In an interview with The Hill, Jolly noted why he voted for Gillum over DeSantis, saying “he put ideology above governing, intra-party battles ahead of legislative solutions, and his Freedom Caucus club ahead of the people of Florida. I don’t see that changing if he is elected Governor.” Having served with DeSantis in Congress, Jolly saw firsthand DeSantis opt for partisan loyalty ahead of Floridians.

Some argue a vote for Gillum is a defiant vote against Trump and maybe so, but others raise the point that Gillum will be checked by a Republican led legislature should he become the next Governor. Fears that Florida would slip into a socialist state are unfounded and are nothing more than a far right talking point.

Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, this election is important and will set the tone for 2020. While roughly 3.5 million ballots have been returned to date, there is still time to get out, vote, and have your voice heard. Otherwise, we as a state will be at the mercy of those who decided to show up and vote.