Andrew Gillum: 5 Things To Know About The Democratic Candidate

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum was the surprise winner in Tuesday's primary election in Florida, defeating former Congresswoman Gwen Graham. His win is considered one of the most significant victories of the 2018 primary season for progressive Democrats. The battle is set between Gillum, considered the most liberal Democratic candidate in the Florida primary field and the Trump-endorsed GOP candidate Ron DeSantis.

Gillum, 39, received the endorsement of former Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders and ran his campaign on a shoestring budget, spending far less than most of his rivals in the Democratic primary. DeSantis won by a nearly 20 point margin over the GOP establishment candidate state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

In his endorsement of Gillum, Sanders said: "Andrew has never backed down from a fight, including beating the NRA and standing up against xenophobic politicians."

RELATED STORY: Florida Primary Election Results: DeSantis, Gillum Win

Here are five things to know about the Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum:

• Gillum would be the first African-American governor of Florida if elected in November. He joins Georgia's Stacey Abrams as the second black Democratic gubernatorial nominee this year in the South.
• Gillum is the son of a construction worker and school bus driver and was the first person in his family to go to college. He was born the fifth of seven children in a working-class neighborhood near Miami. He was the youngest person ever elected to the Tallahassee City Commission at the age of 23. He was elected mayor in 2014.
• Some of Gillum's allies are reported to be part of an FBI probe into pay-for-play schemes in Tallahassee city government. Gillum has denied any wrongdoing and has not been directly tied to the investigation, NBC News reported.
• Gillum is embracing views on health care and immigration that New York congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also has supported, according to the Washington Post.
• Gillum marched with Parkland students demanding stricter gun control after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February. He also has worked as a youth organizer for the liberal group People for the American Way, the Post reported. Gillum has said if he is elected governor he would suspend the use of the death penalty until it can be determined there is no bias in the justice system.

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