Despite voting against U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to lead Democrats, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., welcomed her top lieutenant’s support as she continues her bid to be Florida’s next governor.
After pledging to oppose Pelosi during her 2014 bid for Congress, Graham voted for U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., to lead the Democratic caucus. Despite that, on Tuesday, Graham welcomed the support of U.S. House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Mary., who has been Pelosi’s chief understudy since 2003.
Hoyer endorsed Graham’s gubernatorial bid on Tuesday.
"After raising three children as a working mom, PTA president and public school official, Gwen Graham ran for office to get things done for hardworking families,” Hoyer said. “She stood up for every Floridian and every American by fighting for commonsense reforms, and always put her constituents first, including returning more than $2.5 million to Florida seniors, families and veterans. Just like Washington, Tallahassee badly needs Gwen’s voice of reason, and I'm proud to enthusiastically support her campaign for governor.
"Gwen is smart, disciplined, tough, caring and compassionate,” Hoyer added. “She is the best candidate to win this race and the best qualified to serve the people of Florida as their next governor."
"After a life full of experiences, raising a family and working for my local school district, I decided to run for office to make a difference for Floridians. In just two years, we had many great accomplishments — from expanding the USDA's StrikeForce against poverty to fighting to protect Florida from fracking and oil drilling," Graham said. "Whip Hoyer's friendship and support were an incredible help in my first race and throughout my service in the House. I'm honored to have his support again as we fight to repair the damage from the last twenty years of neglect and failed leadership coming out of Tallahassee."
Graham does not have an open shot at the Democratic nomination as Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and businessman Chris King are also running for it. Other possible Democratic candidates include Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine, attorney John Morgan, former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy and Miami-Dade County State Attorney Kathy Rundle.
In 2014, Graham, the daughter of Bob Graham, who served three terms in the U.S. Senate and two terms as governor, defeated U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., but decided not to run for a second term in 2016 after redistricting. Graham served as an aide to her father and two Democratic presidential candidates in the 2004 election cycle: then-U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and former Gov. Howard Dean, D-Vt.
