DGA Statement on Mayor Andrew Gillum’s Primary Victory in Florida

Today, Democratic Governors Association Chair Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) released the following statement on Mayor Andrew Gillum winning the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida:
“Congratulations to Mayor Andrew Gillum on winning the Democratic nomination for governor in Florida,”said Democratic Governors Association Chair Gov. Jay Inslee. “Andrew’s historic candidacy as the first African-American nominee for governor of Florida came from humble beginnings. He is the son of a school bus driver and construction worker and those experiences shaped his vision for Florida. As Mayor of Tallahassee, he implemented new workforce training programs to ensure workers had the right skills for the jobs of the future while cutting taxes for local businesses.
“With redistricting on the horizon, it is vital Florida elects Andrew Gillum. Andrew will ensure voters pick their elected officials, and end the GOP gerrymandering that has stymied progress in favor of partisan politics. Florida is one of the key races in the DGA’s Unrig the Map project.”  
“As governor, he will continue to fight for a fairer Florida economy where all families have an opportunity to get ahead. He is committed to investing in Florida’s public schools to boost teacher salary and expand early childhood education. Most importantly, he will expand Medicaid so 700,000 Floridians can get the healthcare denied to them by Governor Rick Scott. After eight years of failed leadership, Andrew Gillum’s bold new vision makes him the right leader to make progress for Florida.”
The DGA’s Unrig the Map project, launched in 2015, is a zero-overhead fund to win targeted gubernatorial races that are key to 2021 redistricting. In 27 of the 36 races in 2018, the governor has veto power and plays a significant role in the redistricting process. Unrig The Map scored a significant victory in November 2017, as Democrats won the battleground of Virginia.