Andrew Gillum with his family

To call Florida is a key state for Democrats is an understatement. It’s a perennial battleground when it comes to presidential elections, and as the nation’s third largest state, with 27 seats in the House, it’s prime territory for Republicans to unleash some of their worst and most effective gerrymanders. It’s also on the front lines, quite literally, of the ever-increasing problem of climate change—a problem the GOP is alarmingly content to ignore.

But Florida’s future can be a progressive one, which is why Daily Kos is proud to endorse Andrew Gillum to become the state’s first Democratic governor in the 21st century.

When the votes were tallied in the Florida primary and the Tallahassee mayor’s name appeared on top, some people were surprised. But only the people who haven’t met him.

What propelled a 38-year-old mayor whose entire political career was focused on one town in the Florida panhandle to victory in defiance of almost every prediction? The list is long, but it includes: an incredible ability to explain the importance of government’s role in communities, a confidence that the right policies can improve the lives of ordinary people, and a willingness to take on powerful, entrenched interests that dominate his state. Those qualities are just some of what have made Gillum a force to be reckoned with as mayor of Tallahassee, and they’ll serve him even better when he becomes Florida’s next governor.

Additionally,

Gillum has stood up against the NRA, facing hundreds of thousands in potential fines, as Republicans in the state government worked to pre-empt local gun-safety regulations.

In a state where those attempting to return to normal lives after serving prison sentences face some of the harshest restrictions in the nation, Gillum championed “ban the box” rules that opened employment opportunities and restored hope.

With the state deliberately pressing down on working families, Gillum launched a series of programs to promote family-friendly workplaces, quality child care, provide mentors for teens, and improve educational opportunities for both children and their parents.

With our help, Gillum can take his impressive track record statewide and expand on his successes in the mayor’s office.

Join us in supporting Andrew Gillum for governor! Will you give $3 to kick Trump’s Republican Party out of Florida in November?