Back in Jacksonville, Andrew Gillum returns to familiar ground

Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic Gubernatorial nominee of 2018, returned to Jacksonville Thursday night to deliver a keynote speech.

Gillum spoke to a crowd of hundreds, predominately African-American, at the turnout-generating “Focus 2020: Your vote, your voice” event.

The gathering, put on by the local chapter of the Links, was at Bethel Baptist Church, a traditional stopover for politicians of both parties, but especially Democrats.

Family was on hand, as Gillum noted Bethel was the first church he went to during the campaign.

“I felt the praise and the covering of the Bishop,” Gillum said.

He was, by no means, the first politician to enjoy said praise and covering.

The man who would have been Governor didn’t sound like a candidate, speaking in general turns about the need for “strengthening democracy.”

“There are powerful forces working to make sure the resources aren’t there for  … a complete count,” Gillum said, regarding the Census.

Gillum moved on to discuss how his candidacy brought out black voters, flipping Duval, before discussing how “more competitive” maps would lead to “shared governance” in Tallahassee.

“Diversity of government,” said Gillum.

Gillum went on to say that lack of voter motivation often keeps them away from voting.

“People felt like they were in hell before 2016. They feel like they’re in hell now. And they don’t see any way out,” he said.

Though the 2018 campaign has receded into history, Gillum’s Jacksonville operation was surprisingly strong. And rhetoric like that was part of the reason why, as the candidate energized voters in a way his primary opponents couldn’t.

Despite Ron DeSantis winning narrowly statewide, it wasn’t because of Duval County; Gillum had 53 percent of the vote on the November ballot, continuing momentum from the primary campaign.

Duval, for a brief moment in time, was called “BluVal” by jubilant Dems.

While local Democrats failed to meaningfully capitalize on that momentum in city elections this year, and Republicans control the levers of city government despite a Democratic registration advantage, that’s all history now.

Since his loss last November, Gillum has become an increasingly familiar face for CNN viewers. He is a contributor to the network, and his contributions are often critical of D.C. Republicans.

Gillum closed his 2018 campaign with $3.7 million in a political committee, which donors such as trial lawyer John Morgan contend should have been used for voter outreach.

Gillum is programming that money toward voter registration; however, Morgan contends that Gillum is readying himself for another campaign.

Gillum noted, at the event, that just “six votes a precinct” would have made him a winner.

Perhaps $3.7 million could have went to that end. No matter now.