Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for governor in Florida, has retracted his concession to Rep. Ron DeSantis in the midst of a recount.
Gillum, who is the mayor of Tallahassee, Fla., made the announcement late Saturday.
“I am replacing my earlier concession with an unapologetic and uncompromised call to count every vote,” Gillum tweeted.
I am replacing my earlier concession with an unapologetic and uncompromised call to count every vote.
— Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) November 10, 2018
The announcement came after Florida law triggered a recount of that state’s ballots from the Nov. 6 election. The governor’s race, as well as the Senate race and agriculture secretary race, will all be recounted.
According to CNN, Gillum trailed Rep. DeSantis by 34,000 votes, or .41 percent of the vote, at the time the recount was called. Sen. Bill Nelson is behind GOP Governor Rick Scott by a mere 12,000 votes or .15 percent of the vote. According to Florida law, a margin less than .5 percent triggers a recount by machine. The recount must be completed by 3:00PM Thursday, Nov. 15.
“We’ve learned in various parts of this state that there are still votes that are outstanding. There’s even still in parts of this state some uncertainty around the total number of votes that are remaining to be cast,” Gillum said, further explaining his decision.
Gillum has said that he will accept the outcome of the recount.
Gov. Rick Scott has accused Democrats in Broward and Palm Beach counties of election fraud, though the claims have not been substantiated. One of the officials he targeted, Brenda Snipes, illegally destroyed ballots in a 2016 congressional race.
The right has aggressively claimed voter fraud in the midterms, as margins narrow in races in Georgia, Florida, and Arizona. President Trump has weighed in, saying that Democrats are, “Trying to STEAL two big elections in Florida! We are watching closely!”
Trying to STEAL two big elections in Florida! We are watching closely!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018
He even said he was getting personally involved:
As soon as Democrats sent their best Election stealing lawyer, Marc Elias, to Broward County they miraculously started finding Democrat votes. Don’t worry, Florida – I am sending much better lawyers to expose the FRAUD!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2018
If the recount ends in Gillum’s favor, he will be only the fifth Black governor in U.S. history.
H/T CNN
