![Andrew Gillum](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/screenshot-7.png)
The subject came up at the end of Andrew Gillum’s headline making interview.
After he came out as bisexual. After he discussed that infamous night in Miami Beach. Interviewer Tamron Hall did what’s commonly referred to in the media as “spinning the story forward.”
“Andrew, if you decided to go back into politics, do you believe that you could re-enter and possibly even be an elected official again one day?” she asked
“I do,” Gillum responded, “if I put my mind to that. There is not a thing that has happened in my life, scandalous or not, to cause me to believe that if I have service to give in elected office as a means in order to render that, that I couldn’t do that. Now, would it be hard? Absolutely. But Donald Trump is President.”
As the world explored the consequence of the former Tallahassee Mayor going on national television as a Black man professing his bisexuality, perhaps the most prominent Black man to do so, the Florida political world buzzed, whether in excitement or disbelief, at a renewed political prospect.
Could Gillum seek — and win — elected office again?
To be clear, Gillum did not signal an interest in any particular statewide or even local office or give a timeline on when he may re-enter the political arena.
“To my knowledge he has not decided to seek political office again,” said Sean Pittman, a long political advisor to the former Democratic gubernatorial nominee. “I think he will always be involved in policy and politics in some way.”
Consultant Kevin Cate, a long-time curator of the Gillum political hype machine, wouldn’t directly address speculation. Rather, he pointed to a March tweet still serving as his comment on all things Gillum: “I haven’t said anything publicly about my dear friend Andrew Gillum — a man, husband, and father who I love — nor do I intend to any time soon, aside from quoting words he spoke to all of us often. ‘Nobody should be judged forever by their worst day.’ “
Will the public be so forgiving?
Susan McManus, a distinguished political science professor at the University of South Florida, said the question depends on what office he may seek.
“It’s really contingent upon what district he ran in and what he runs for,” she said. “If he’s running for liberal, young, progressive college students, I can’t see him having any problems. They are all about rehabilitation.”
But that’s a pretty select constituency. Maybe he can find it in certain positions in Tallahassee or parts of South Florida.
A year and a half ago, Gillum swatted national media questions away about running for President even after losing the Governor’s race by an historically slim margin. But McManus can’t imagine a statewide office Gillum could win right now.
There, the problems of the Miami hotel incident, in which he was found by police in a room with bags of drugs and a reputed male escort, will be harder to erase. And for some sections of the population, his bisexuality will be an issue even in the year 2020.
“The older constituents are, the more they are about punishment,” McManus said. “He shouldn’t expect everybody will come with open arms.”
However he answered Hall’s questions in a pre=taped interview, it’s not clear Gillum has the infrastructure in place to launch a major campaign at the moment. Pittman isn’t working with Gillum in any official capacity. Joshua Karp, a spokesman for the Gillum-tied Forward Florida political committee, said Gillum hasn’t worked closely with the organization recently.
There is the question of timing, of course. Qualification for the 2020 election cycle is long past and party primaries were held statewide nearly a month ago. That includes Tallahassee offices should the ex-Mayor consider a return to City Hall. So it could be a couple years before there’s even a chance to run.
But then, Florida in recent years has experienced a bit of a “rainbow wave” of LGBTQ politicians elected to public office. There’s three gay or lesbian lawmakers in the Florida Legislature now and several more running for office. In coming out as a member of that marginalized community, he may just have grown a natural voting base.
Rep. Shevrin Jones, a Miami Gardens Democrat expected to be the first openly gay man to win a Florida Senate seat, said he’s just happy to see Gillum reemerge and get back involved in politics at some level.
“Andrew is a longtime friend, and I’m proud of him for finding the strength to live and share his truth,” Jones said. “I wish everyone had the support and space to do so, but sadly, too many in our country do not — though I am hopeful that his words will allow others to do so safely moving forward. This year is critical for Democrats up and down the ballot, and I’m glad Andrew is in this fight as he uses his platform for good. There’s too much at stake in this election for anyone to sit on the sidelines.”
12 comments
Bob Swanson
September 15, 2020 at 8:03 pm
The issue is not that bisexuals should not hold public office.
The issue is that this man, regardless of his sexual predilections or race, is unfit for public office by virtue of his repeated pattern of abuse of the public trust.
Uh-No!
September 15, 2020 at 8:56 pm
Let me think about it.
Pedro
September 15, 2020 at 9:19 pm
His being bisexual is irrelevant. That is his sexual orientation. It doesn’t affect his job performance.
martin
September 15, 2020 at 11:17 pm
his drug and alcohol issues mean he is a liability. Let him get a job in the private sector (if he has any worthwhile job skills), where he cannot harm the general public.
Debra
September 16, 2020 at 6:09 pm
I agree
Ron Ogden
September 16, 2020 at 7:23 am
Biological urges lie at the core of humanity. Whether the urge is for gluttony, or intoxication, or greed, or sloth, or sexuality, the inability to control ones impulses testifies to weakness of character and lack of self-discipline. Gillum, it appears, is this well-qualified to represent the weak of character and poorly disciplined.
Ian
September 16, 2020 at 8:03 am
The answer to the headline’s question is easy: nonexistent.
just sayin
September 16, 2020 at 9:40 am
The important thing to remember is that he’s just a victim in all this.
Sam
September 16, 2020 at 9:41 am
Hopefully none. Stay on TV dude, you are a distraction to your party.
Harold Finch
September 16, 2020 at 10:45 am
I feel sorry for his wife and kids.
Work is a 4 Letter Word
September 16, 2020 at 6:52 pm
Gillum does not identify as employed.
Chris
September 17, 2020 at 4:57 am
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Democrats SUCK!
Comments are closed.