Jacob Ogles
Legendary music man Jimmy Buffett will host a free concert in West Palm Beach today, and he’s got answers for voters with questions still bothering them so.
Buffett’s advice? Vote for Democrats Andrew Gillum for Governor and Bill Nelson for Senate.
Buffett’s “small acoustic set” will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Meyer Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach.
While Florida has seen many changes in attitudes in the governor’s mansion since Republican Jeb Bush won in 1994 and set off a 20-year winning streak for the GOP, Buffett hopes to help a “Blue Wave” along.
The Key West resident was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2000, the same year Nelson won election to the U.S. Senate. While a Mississippi native, Buffett’s personal history is deeply tied to Florida, as he wrote “Margaritaville, his breakthrough hit and still most famous song, while in Key West.
He’s called America’s southernmost city home now for decades.
His connection with Nelson goes back years, and the Democratic incumbent released a picture of the men on stage together when both looked still looked at 40 as a recent stop.
“Thanks in large part to folks like Jimmy, environmental education and protection of Manatees in Florida has been a priority,” Nelson said. “As someone who loves our state’s unique environment, I’m proud Jimmy’s out singing for votes.”
Nelson now faces Republican challenger and two-term Gov. Rick Scott.
Gillum and Buffett form a more recent relationship, as the musician last performed a political set in favor of Gwen Graham, who lost in the Democratic primary to Gillum.
But no hard feelings. He’s true blue looking toward Tuesday.
“If you haven’t noticed yet, there is an election next Tuesday, and I am glad to support Mayor Andrew Gillum for Governor, and my longtime friend Sen. Bill Nelson for re-election,” Buffett said.
Gillum faces Republican Ron DeSantis.
The GOTV concert takes place in an important Democratic bastion of the state during the last weekend of Early Voting.
