Hollywood, Fla. — At today’s Leadership Blue Progressive Forum, Gubernatorial Candidate Gwen Graham laid out her values, vision, and record of working to improve public education, protect Florida’s land and water, and build an economy that works for all.
“The education industry is rigged against our students. After almost 20 years of Republican rule and under Rick Scott, Tallahassee has sold out our schools to the highest bidder. As governor, I will end high-stakes testing, end degrading school grades and end the lottery shell game. We’ll finally pay teachers what they deserve and make sure every student has an opportunity at success, no matter where they come from or where they live,” Graham said after the forum.
Graham is the only candidate in the race to release plans to address issues facing Florida. She’s laid out a roadmap for ending Florida’s education industry, presented plans to curb gun violence in the state, shown how Florida she will lead the fight against climate change, and pledged to sign an executive order banning LGBT discrimination in state government.
“Our love for Florida begins and ends with our environment. Donald Trump says climate change is a hoax and Rick Scott won’t even say the words at all. As governor, I will fight oil drilling off our beaches, ban fracking and prepare our coastal cities and shores for climate change,” Graham said. “When I’m governor, ‘Jobs, Jobs, Jobs,’ will no longer mean you need three jobs just to get buy — we will build an economy that works for every Floridian.”
On healthcare, Graham proposed implementing a public option in Florida, by allowing all Floridians to buy into existing public plans, like the state’s employee health plan.
“I believe healthcare is a human right. No Floridian should go without care because they can’t afford insurance. We must fight TrumpCare, expand Medicaid, and look at all options — including a Florida public option — to cover every person in our state,” Graham said.”
She spoke about her progressive values and her record of fighting to defend them in Congress. Graham sat in with Congressman John Lewis to demand gun safety legislation, fought Republican attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, defended women’s rights and Planned Parenthood, co-sponsored LGBT anti-discrimination legislation, voted in support of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan,co-sponsored legislation to ban oil drilling off Florida’s beaches, she fought with local governments to ban fracking and rallied leaders to save the Apalachicola Bay.
“I never expected to run for public office. I’m proud of the life experiences I’ve gained raising a family, volunteering as a PTA president, working for my local school district, and serving in Congress. The state we love is running out of time — and we can’t afford another career politician like Adam Putnam who has sold to the special interests,” Graham said. “I’m the only candidate in this race that’s been tested and beat an incumbent Republican by turning out our base in Democratic cities and winning new voters in rural and red counties. In 2018, we’re going to replicate that strategy across our state to turn Florida blue.”
The forum came one day after a major endorsement by progressive leader, Broward Commission and former state senator Nan Rich, who said, “Gwen Graham has the integrity and ideas, the leadership qualities and real-life experiences to end the Republicans’ nearly two-decade hold on the governor’s office and put Florida on a progressive path forward.”
