Jacob Ogles
Andrew Gillum visited seven different black churches this Sunday, putting the political power of prayer to the test as the Aug. 28 Democratic primary draws near.
Traveling Miami-Dade County alongside state Sen. Annette Taddeo, Gillum made stops at St. Peter’s Missionary Baptist Church Baptist Church, The Bethel Church in Miami, Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church, Martin Memorial Church and Cathedral of Praise in Miami and at Second Baptist Church in Richmond Heights.
Last, and SEVENTH stop of the day — Martin Memorial Church! I had such a great time traveling across South Dade this morning with Senator @Annette_Taddeo, an unapologetic champion for her commmunity, and I look forward to serving as a partner on the opposite side of the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/RGYzbhYrXD
— Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) July 22, 2018
The Tallahassee mayor noted he was baptized at The Bethel Church, and his mother Frances Gillum sat in the pews today at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist.
“This is life coming full circle for me as we continue on this journey,” he wrote on Twitter.
Along the way, of course, Gillum and Taddeo posted pictures of themselves with community leaders including Apostle Carlos Malone, Rev. Robert Brooks, Pastor Kay Dawson, Rev. Anthony Reed and Pastor Theo Johnson.
After a day of congregating, Gillum also met with voters at a meet-and-greet in Overtown. He tossed a few good words in online for Taddeo, a Miami Democrat who last year won a special election in Senate District 40 and now is running for re-election.
Of course, the tour also showed perhaps the clearest path to the gubernatorial mansion for Gillum, who would become Florida’s first black governor if elected.
Black voters make up 29 percent of registered Democrats in Florida, retired University of South Florida professor Susan Macmanus told the Sun-Sentinel in June.
Additionally, of the nearly 4.8 million Democrats currently registered in Florida, almost 582,000 live in Miami-Dade County, helping make South Florida an important place to win over during a Democratic primary and a critical area to inspire high turnout for Democrats come November.
Since the Democratic primary for governor includes five major candidates—Gillum, Gwen Graham, Jeff Greene, Chris King and Philip Levine—winning over black voters could make a big difference in taking a plurality of Democrats on Aug. 28 to secure the party nomination.
