Tallahassee Mayor, Andrew D. Gillum won Florida's Democratic gubernatorial nomination Tuesday. He will face Republican Rep. Ron DeSantis in the general election. File photo by REUTERS/Chris Aluka Berry

Gillum is Florida’s Democratic governor nominee

Politics

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum has won the Democratic nomination in his quest to become Florida's first black governor.

Gillum won the primary Tuesday after upsetting a field of better-known and better funded candidates. He defeated a field that included former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, who aimed to follow her father to the office and become the state's first woman governor.

Gillum was a favorite among many groups that call themselves progressive Democrats. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont endorsed him.

Gillum spent only $6.5 million on a primary where billionaire Jeff Greene spent $38 million and millionaire former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine spent about $29 million of his fortune.

He faces Republican nominee U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis in the race to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Rick Scott.

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Gillum is Florida’s Democratic governor nominee first appeared on the PBS News website.

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