Joe Henderson
As the state prepares for the Primary Election, let’s take a trip in the Way Back Machine. Around this time in 2018, it looked like Gwen Graham would be the Democratic gubernatorial nominee.
Although multiple polls often gave conflicting information, Graham — the daughter of Democratic icon Bob Graham — was peaking at the right time. At least that’s what conventional wisdom indicated.
A week before the Primary, a Florida Atlantic University poll gave Graham a 12-point lead over her closest rival, Philip Levine.
What followed, however, showed the folly of presumption.
Then-Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the only Black candidate in the race, had a plan. He closed with a last-week blitz in four counties with the highest percentage of Black voters in the state — Duval, Orange, Broward, and Miami-Dade.
While Graham stuck with a centrist message, Gillum relentlessly pushed progressive ideas. The strategy worked. Voters in those four counties overwhelmingly went for Gillum, and he beat Graham by about 45,000 votes to win the nomination.
Once again, Lucy pulled the football before Democrats could complete the kick and win the Governor’s race for the first time in this century. Gillum ran a poor campaign after the Primary, dogged by rumors of scandal and incompetence.
He dropped a razor-thin race to Ron DeSantis, and Florida embarked on what has increasingly become the iron-fisted rule of a Governor who tolerates no dissent.
It’s worth wondering what Florida would look like today had Graham won that Primary.
It’s pure speculation, of course, but she likely would have run a better campaign than Gillum. And while Donald Trump endorsed DeSantis, it’s worth remembering that independent voters decide these races, and Trump had big issues there.
The odds are good that Graham would have beaten DeSantis.
Had that happened, Florida would likely have remained a purple state instead of the crimson-hued place it is today.
Graham certainly would have vetoed the harsh anti-abortion law the GOP-led Legislature cooked up with DeSantis’ connivance this year.
She would be governing instead of auditioning for a 2024 White House run.
And what of DeSantis?
We saw his act shortly after the Primary when he warned Florida voters not to “monkey this up” by electing a Black Governor. DeSantis said no, no, no, he didn’t mean anything racist.
His actions as Governor bring that assertion into question. Race seems to be at the center of many of DeSantis’ ideas.
The voter suppression laws — excuse me, “security” — DeSantis championed would never have happened.
There would be no “anti-riot” bill that he dreamed up after the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd’s death. Schools and employers wouldn’t have to grapple with his possibly illegal “anti-WOKE” legislation.
Graham would have blocked GOP efforts to subvert the right of felons to regain their voting rights.
Florida’s congressional districts would have been more equitable than DeSantis’s gerrymandered red-blitz. Remember, DeSantis vetoed the original maps the Legislature sent him, maps even Democrats said were fair.
Now, they’re not fair.
By losing, DeSantis would likely have faded into the obscurity he had until Trump caught his act on Fox News and gave his career a rocket boost.
The U.S. Senate might look different, too.
Bill Nelson lost a tight race to Rick Scott, but he might have had enough oomph with a stronger Democrat at the top of the ticket. Now, Scott proposed raising income taxes on the poorest Americans. He also recommended sunsetting safety nets like Social Security and Medicare after five years.
Nikki Fried, elected as Agriculture Commissioner in 2018, wouldn’t be running for Governor now. Charlie Crist would have stayed in a safe U.S. House seat that now could turn red.
Graham, the centrist, would have been the check on one-party excess.
And DeSantis wouldn’t look forward to four more years — well, maybe two — as Florida’s Governor.
30 comments
Elliott Offen
August 22, 2022 at 7:55 pm
The answer is we wouldn’t have so many unhinged, anti-government, white supremacist terrorists running around Florida… thanks to GOP propaganda. All of it to protect the rich using mostly poor stupid people. Crime against humanity really…
Tom
August 23, 2022 at 5:26 am
Idiot Elliot, blow hard, blowing Joey corsin.
Elliott Offen
August 23, 2022 at 7:13 am
^ Far right nut job. Only learned to read not too long ago. Probably dangerous terrorist. Vote BLUE to put people like this guy out of their misery. Vote RED to create more stupid people like this guy.
Tom
August 23, 2022 at 7:37 am
Blowing hard! Make organ liar.
David In Shoreline
August 22, 2022 at 8:06 pm
Phew! I guess we should be glad Graham lost then. We got America’s Governor Ron DeSantis, who, through his highly effective leadership has made Florida the envy of the nation. Freedom and prosperity. That’s all it takes to win votes people.
Joe Corsin
August 22, 2022 at 8:28 pm
^ Far right propaganda…over there looking like a POW on TV making such statements 😆
Trevor Morris
August 31, 2022 at 5:36 pm
You must not have been beyond Mississippi in the nation. Florida is not the envy of the nation. Florida is the joke of the nation.
PeterH
August 22, 2022 at 9:46 pm
Arizona and Florida are the only two states in the USA hiring college dropouts with at least two years of college to teach in classrooms.
Why not just hire baby sitters?
…..and Floridians are wondering why 50% of third graders can’t read.
Tom
August 23, 2022 at 7:33 am
You ate a liar!
Dozens of states have greater short falls. Florida’s is less.
Educators and nurses have dropped out for many reasons after Covid.
Save it liar.
Impeach Biden
August 22, 2022 at 10:05 pm
Wackos like the Corsin / Offen misfits preferred Gillum over Graham. Just imagine for a moment if that pole smoking, drug snorting fool would have won the Governor spot. That porn is for you Corsin / Offen and the moderators that apparently like it.
Joe Corsin
August 22, 2022 at 10:16 pm
* See comment below…also ye gon munch Nikki’s rug!!!😆🔥
Joe Corsin
August 22, 2022 at 10:14 pm
Donald Trump smoked anchovies against their will…yeah many sex assaults, inciting insurrection, inciting sedition, impeachments, election crimes out the yin yang, now espionage act violations. Death penalty on the table for such high crime spree.
Tom
August 22, 2022 at 10:36 pm
Wah, Wah, Wah, hand wringers.
Unbelievable Joe, say it ain’t so.
Woulda, coulda, and shoulda.
Three types of peoples Joe.
Those who make things happen,
Those who watch what happened
And those who say what happened.
DeSantis through his life work, makes things happen at every step!
Little league and College WS ball star.
Yale College Baseball star captain.
Unlike the gifted Gwen Graham, in name only.
Wah, Wah.
Harvard Law school Grad
U S Navy captain enlisted, representing seal team.
U S assistant attorney central Florida.
U S member of Congress.
Elected Governor of Florida.
Youngest chief executive in country.
America’s. greatest Governor.
Joe Corsin
August 22, 2022 at 11:51 pm
^ Far right propaganda… looking like a POW on TV reciting nonsense like duped zombie.
Trevor Morris
August 31, 2022 at 5:38 pm
Gov. DeSaster is a dangerous clown. Name a single thing that he has improved for the average Floridian.
tom palmer
August 22, 2022 at 11:34 pm
The GOP eliminated runoff elections, so Graham didn”t have a chance to win because she didn’t win a plurality. She had her issues as not being as quick on her feet as Gillum, who was more flash than substance. This is really kind a useless discussion, because that election is long over.
;
Tom
August 23, 2022 at 5:07 am
LMAO Palmer
Telling Joe H, it’s a useless topic.
Wah, Wah yes it is.
Tell despicable scum corsin that.
Talk about a bunch of hand wringers.
Whiz kid Gov turned out to be a rock star.
DeSantis saved Florida from the far left extremist blue state Governor as examples.
2.7% unemployment, 7.8% wage growth! 24 consecutive months of job growth. Florida’s jobs growth outpaces feds.
Florida’s economy is on fire!
Rising tide for all.
Joe Corsin
August 23, 2022 at 7:16 am
^ Victim of poor education and nonexistent social services. Florida bred an ape with this guy. Yeah Florida’s finest.
Tom
August 23, 2022 at 5:36 am
70,000 new net jobs adding to 24 consecutive months of job growth.
70,000 jobs, tying previous record.
Joe Corsin
August 23, 2022 at 7:18 am
^ Shovels poop for $6 an hour…thanks Ron DeSatan and rich people. Worships the rich yet he is not rich. Loves Florida slave plantation..
Tom
August 23, 2022 at 4:57 am
Wah, Wah, Wah, hand wringers.
Unbelievable Joe, say it ain’t so.
Woulda, coulda, and shoulda.
Three types of peoples Joe.
Those who make things happen.
Those who watch what happened.
And those who say what happened.
DeSantis through his life work, makes things happen at every step!
Little league and College WS baseball star.
Yale College Baseball star captain.
Unlike the gifted Gwen Graham, in name only.
Wah, Wah. Living off daddy.
Harvard Law school Grad
U S Navy captain enlisted, representing seal team.
U.S assistant attorney central Florida.
U.S.member of Congress.
Elected Governor of Florida.
Youngest chief executive in country.
Joe Corsin
August 23, 2022 at 7:22 am
^ This guy needs to be studied by scientists. Questions need to be answered. What goes into creating someone who worships a grifter? What are the social and economic conditions that bring about human de-evolution back into an ape? Is this largely a Red state phenomenon? How do they achieve complete and total physical and mental slavery to the rich?
maggie ryan
August 23, 2022 at 10:37 am
With all these advantages and assets, why is he such a bully? Why is he so angry? He has been blessed by many things yet, he is mean, vindictive. It is so sad.
Tom
August 23, 2022 at 7:35 am
Wah, mental moron Joey corsin, Wah.
Go hand wring with Henderson.
Facts are funny things. As usual you reply with thumb in ass!
S.O. Dozie
August 23, 2022 at 10:13 am
“Florida would look a lot more balanced today.”
In other words, Florida would have a lefty governor spending all our surplus on more and more free stuff for social incompetents in order to try to energize her dozy base–and that would have suited you just fine, Joe, because you are a member of that base.
Tom
August 23, 2022 at 11:28 am
Dozie, yes you are a doozie.
Enjoy.
S.O. Dozie
August 23, 2022 at 12:19 pm
I always do, thank you.
Bruce Smathers
August 23, 2022 at 12:28 pm
Joe,
A well written perspective with which I agree.
Thanks for your article.
Bruce Smathers
SPJ
August 23, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Coulda, shoula, woulda. This article has no meaning because the reality is that DeSantis won. Period. Speculation otherwise is like looking up a dead horses ass to see what it died of…pointless.
Tom
August 23, 2022 at 7:18 pm
SPJ, you get the the double doozie!
LMAO. So true, boy that’s what the Dems, Soros Manchurians do!
They enjoy!
Comments are closed.