One reason Gwen Graham isn’t Democratic LG pick: She wasn’t asked

Gwen Graham and Andrew Gillum

If you’re wondering why Gwen Graham isn’t Andrew Gillum‘s choice to run with him as Lieutenant Governor … well, you’ll have to ask him.

He never called to ask her if she was interested.

Gillum, the Tallahassee Mayor who won the Democratic primary for Governor last month, never reached out to Graham directly or through back channels, according to two sources close to Graham.

He instead announced Winter Park businessman Chris King as his LG during a Facebook Live appearance Thursday. King was one of Gillum’s competitors for the Governor spot.

“Gwen was never contacted by the nominee regarding LG (even as a courtesy) and always has put the State over her own personal interests,” this source said. “She would have served and served well if called upon to do so.”

But she wasn’t, adding a bit more fuel to the fire that despite the public show of détente by all the parties, there’s still a reservoir of bad blood separating the two camps.

A senior staffer on the Graham campaign confirmed that “Gillum never even reached out to talk to her about it.”

Moreover, “no one from their campaign has called or approached any of us to help in any way,” that person added.

That suggests she won’t have to mull whether she wants to be part of the Gillum administration because he has no intention to offer her a place if he’s elected.

Peter Schorsch

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including Florida Politics and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. Schorsch is also the publisher of INFLUENCE Magazine. For several years, Peter's blog was ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.


9 comments

  • Austin Cassidy

    September 6, 2018 at 1:28 pm

    So a glorified city councilman, under investigation by the FBI, has selected a rich guy who spent $6 million of his family’s money to get 2% of the vote in the Democratic primary. A far-left candidate goes even further left.

    This is a great day for the Reform Party and the Richardson/Argenziano ticket.

    • Bill

      September 6, 2018 at 2:01 pm

      As usual, a vote for a third party is a vote for the Republican Party.

    • Walter Yeates

      September 7, 2018 at 2:40 am

      Social Democracy isn’t ‘far left’ the platform is left and wildly popular in the country by polling.

      The Reform Party will be lucky to get 2% of the vote.

  • Mark

    September 6, 2018 at 6:53 pm

    I was hoping Gillum would extend an olive branch to Graham voters. This is sad. I’m leaving the Democratic Party and registering NPA. Party no longer represents me or any moderate.
    And in protest, I’ll be holding my nose and voting DeSantis.

    • ABG

      September 9, 2018 at 7:58 am

      Voting DeSantis? Then you were never really a Democrat in the first place. Goodbye.

  • David W Moore

    September 6, 2018 at 8:15 pm

    So much for the contributions of Florida Democratic Women. Lol…..
    What else would you expect from a corrupt Bernie Sanders socialist under FBI investigation?
    I supported Gwen Graham, and refuse to vote for these losers.

    Given Senator Bill Nelson’s warning that the election system was hacked by the Russians, perhaps the tallies should be looked at closer.

    • Walter Yeates

      September 7, 2018 at 2:37 am

      A lot of false claims here. He himself isn’t under investigation, neither he nor Bernie have Socialist platforms, Gwen is a neoliberal establishment figure who is far from a Social Democrat. She isn’t entitled to anything and progressives in Florida didn’t vote for Andrew for him to take someone drenched in corporate and pac money.

  • Walter Yeates

    September 7, 2018 at 2:38 am

    A lot of false claims here. He himself isn’t under investigation, neither he nor Bernie have Socialist platforms, Gwen is a neoliberal establishment figure who is far from a Social Democrat. She isn’t entitled to anything and progressives in Florida didn’t vote for Andrew for him to take someone drenched in corporate and pac money.

  • Scott myers

    September 7, 2018 at 7:54 pm

    So graham is entitled to an offering? I don’t think so.

Comments are closed.


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