UPDATE: Democrat Andrew Gillum has just conceded to Republican Ron DeSantis in the race for Florida Governor
BREAKING: Democrat Andrew Gillum has just conceded to Republican Ron DeSantis in the race for Florida Governor @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/HAaOZGLEXn
— Manuel Bojorquez (@BojorquezCBS) November 7, 2018
Results expected around 7:00 PM EST. You can view live updates above. We will also have a backup live results link at the bottom of this story in case the above unit has any technical issues.
Voters are deciding whether to keep Florida under Republican control with a close Trump ally or elect its first Democratic governor since 1994 — and the first African-American ever — after a campaign marked by a deadly hurricane and gun violence.
Former Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis is hoping to ride President Donald Trump’s backing to victory in the governor’s race Tuesday, while Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum has sought to energize his party’s voters as an unabashed liberal.
Gillum’s path to the nomination was a surprise, winning against four better-funded challengers. Hurricane Michael pulled him off the campaign trail in early October when it left nearly all of Florida’s capital without power. He again rushed home Friday, canceling campaign events after a man shot six people at a yoga studio, killing two before taking his own life.
DeSantis won the primary against better-known and better-funded Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam based largely on Trump’s endorsement. Trump visited Florida twice in the final six days of the election to try to boost turnout. – READ MORE