Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum has opened the door to running for Congress, potentially challenging U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., in the Democratic primary.
Politico Florida reported on Friday that Gillum is drawing closer to challenging Brown whose district has been changed in the state Supreme Court’s decision on Wednesday to accept congressional districts drawn up by the League of Women Voters (LWV).
Kevin Cate, who is advising Gillum, emailed a statement over to the media on Friday morning.
“People are reaching out to Mayor Gillum because Washington desperately needs the type of energy and focus he brings every day as mayor, creating new jobs and opportunities to get ahead,” Cate said. “He's listening and will make his decision on how he can best continue creating new jobs and opportunities, while also being a great husband and father.”
Under the old map, Brown’s district crossed through North Florida to the central part of the state, taking in parts of Alachua, Clay, Duval, Lake, Marion, Orange, Putnam, Seminole and Volusia counties, making it a very secure seat for Democrats. But the seat is far less secure under the court approved map, heading west from Brown’s Jacksonville base, taking in all of Baker, Gadsden, Hamilton and Madison counties, most of Jefferson and Leon counties and almost half of Duval County. Brown has been an outspoken critic of redistricting attempts and has sued in federal court, arguing they have hurt minority voters.
A primary between Brown and Gillum would match up one of the most established Democrats in the state versus a rare rising star for the party in North Florida. Brown has been in Congress since 1992 and has easily beaten back challenges including from Republican Jennifer Carroll, who went to serve as lieutenant governor under Gov. Rick Scott, and Democratic primary foe Alvin Brown who went on to serve as mayor of Jacksonville.
Only 36, Gillum has been in politics for more than a decade, having won a seat on the Tallahassee City Commission at 23. In 2014, Gillum ran over his two Democratic opponents, taking more than 75 percent in the Tallahassee mayoral primary. The former student body president of Florida A&M University (FAMU), Gillum was the national director of the Young Elected Officials Network with People For the American Way and deputy political director for the Florida Democrats. He was recognized last year by the Washington Post as one of the most promising politicians under the age of 40.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
