Calling for a “whole new generation of people to stand up and demand more for our politics," businessman Chris King kicked off his bid to be Florida’s next governor on Tuesday.
King filed his paperwork to run in the Democratic primary at the start of March but he kept a low profile for most of the first month he was in the race even as he raised around $500,000 for his campaign and threw in $1 million of his own funds into his campaign. That changed on Tuesday as he released a Web video offering some biographical details and playing up his Florida roots.
Based out of Orlando, King is the CEO of Elevation Financial Group, which, according to his team “creates quality, affordable housing for seniors and families in Florida and across the Southeast.” King is also active with a group helping low-income students afford higher education. This marks the first time the Orlando businessman has run for office.
“I am committed to the success of Florida,” King says in the video, showcasing his efforts to provide affordable housing in low-income neighborhoods.
With King being largely unknown throughout the state, the video focuses on his biography featuring testimonials from friends, associates and family. But there are some familiar political faces in the video as well, including former Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin.
In the last minute of the video, King turns his attention to the issues, including the economy.
“We need to change the way our economy does business,” King says in the video. He calls for “fresh ideas that raise incomes and that lift up home grown businesses of the future that will create those jobs that create higher wages.” He also briefly touches on the environment, health care, education and other issues in the video.
King is scheduled to kickoff his gubernatorial bid with an event in Orlando on Tuesday night. He’s been building a campaign team, including bringing on Omar Khan, who led former Gov. Charlie Crist’s unsuccessful bid in 2014 to win a second term as governor.
While the Democrats haven’t won a gubernatorial election since then Gov. Lawton Chiles held off Republican challenger Jeb Bush back in 1994, there could be a crowded field lining up in 2018 when current Gov. Rick Scott faces term limits. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is the only other major Democratic candidate in the race besides King. Gillum and King could be joined by two former members of Congress in Gwen Graham and Patrick Murphy, Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine and attorney John Morgan.
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