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US-VOTE-GILLUM-LEAD
Democrat Gillum concedes in close Florida governor’s race
MIAMI, Nov 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Democrat Andrew Gillum, the African
American mayor of Florida state capital Tallahassee, conceded Tuesday in his
acrimonious battle for governor with Ron DeSantis, a member of the House of
Representatives and ardent supporter of President Donald Trump.
“We could not be more thankful for the support that was shown by each and
every one of you all the way along this path. We recognize that, you know, we
didn’t win it tonight,” he told supporters.
“Earlier this evening I called Mr Ron DeSantis and congratulated him on
what we expect will be him as the next governor of the great state of
Florida.
“But I want you to know, I want you to know, I want you to know that in
spite of our congratulating him on his victory this evening, nothing that we
believe in is compromised.”
The race was among the most watched in the US midterms, with Trump throwing
his weight behind DeSantis and Gillum endorsed by former Democratic president
Barack Obama and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
In the dying days of the campaign, Trump branded Gillum a “thief” and
accused him of running a corrupt city, without presenting evidence for his
attack.
The FBI has been conducting a probe of alleged public corruption in
Tallahassee, and while Gillum has said he has been told he is not the target,
Republicans used the investigation as a cudgel against him.
DeSantis himself has been widely criticized for urging Florida voters not
to “monkey this up” by electing Gillum, a comment denounced as racist.
BSS/AFP/MR/1056 hrs