Gillum Has Slight Lead Over DeSantis In Governor's Race

TALLAHASSEE, FL — With Election Day less than a month away, Florida's two gubernatorial candidates are running neck to neck. Democrat Andrew Gillum, who once posted a 5-point lead over Republican Congressman Ron DeSantis, was leading by only a 1-point margin as of Friday, according to RealClearPolitics.

Gillum released his joint 2015 and 2016 tax returns Friday and called on DeSantis to do the same. Gillum filed for an extension on his 2017 return, which was further extended as a result of Hurricane Michael.

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"Floridians deserve transparency, honesty and integrity from their next governor, which is exactly what Andrew Gillum has done as mayor and what he’ll do as governor," said Gillum communications director Johanna Cervone in releasing the returns.

The Tallahassee mayor's popularity was on display Friday as hundreds of supporters had to be turned away from a rally in St. Petersburg, noted a Huffington Post journalist on social media. Gillum's 5-point lead came on Oct. 1, according to RealClearPolitics.

This weekend, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey will campaign for Gillum at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville at the school's homecoming parade. The school is Florida's first institution established for the education of African Americans. The parade starts at Stanton College Prep School and concludes at Edward Waters College.

Gillum's joint 2016 return shows he and wife Rashada earned $231,076 and requested a refund of $9,455. In 2015, the couple reported earnings of $249,617 and requested a refund of $7,288.

Neither candidate is required to release their federal income tax returns, but Florida gubernatorial candidates have traditionally done so.

A spokesman for DeSantis said earlier this week he would release his returns if Gillum released his returns.

Meanwhile, a Republican attack ad has accused Gillum of "running for governor and also from the FBI" in connection with a federal corruption probe focusing on Tallahassee government. Gillum insists that he was told by the FBI he is not a target.

Shaky Start

The Trump-endorsed Republican appeared to stumble at the start of the campaign when he told Fox News on the day following his primary win: "The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state," referring to Gillum's liberal politics.

Those comments touched off a storm of controversy with critics claiming they were a veiled reference to the fact that Gillum is vying to become the state's first black chief executive.

While the race may be close when measured by political polls, the two candidates are miles apart on issues like healthcare, gun reform, immigration, taxes, abortion, and the environment.

Healthcare

Gilllum has proposed passing a Florida law that would protect people with pre-existing conditions from being denied coverage, being charged more for their care due to a pre-existing condition, or women being charged more than men.

He also proposed a law protecting women’s access to no-cost contraceptive care under Obamacare.

The DeSantis campaign had not yet rolled out its healthcare plan as of Friday.

Immigration

DeSantis pledged to stop illegal immigration into Florida by preventing employers from hiring undocumented workers and preventing communities in the state from becoming so-called sanctuary jurisdictions.

Gillum advocates what his campaign described as a compassionate immigration policy. He has promised to fight mass deportation policies "that threaten to split families and hurt Florida’s economy."

Gun Reform

With respect to guns, DeSantis promises to stand up for "law-abiding Floridians by defending their Second Amendment rights" while Gillum pledges to "never back down from common sense solutions to keep our streets, parks, and schools safe from gun violence."

State Supreme Court Vacancies

Gillum supports the legalization of marijuana to pay for teacher and instructional staff pay increases and to reduce the mass incarceration of people with low-level drug offenses. His first priority would be appointing three new Florida Supreme Court justices who "share the values of this state, and he’ll appoint diverse, qualified judges who represent the breadth and depth of people in this state." DeSantis would appoint constitutional conservatives to the Florida Supreme Court.

Corporate Taxes

Gillum wants to impose corporate tax levels of 7.75 percent, which would generate at least $1 billion by his estimate.

DeSantis opposes tax increases and wants to keep Florida as one of the "lowest tax states" in the nation.

Criminal Justice

Gillum wants to reform the bail system to "stop disenfranchising people of lower economic means," and work with the legislature to find common ground on minimum sentencing reforms.

DeSantis has racked up 30 endorsements from various county sheriffs around the state.

Abortion and Contraception

DeSantis wants to sign pro-life legislation into law while Gillum said he will oppose any attempt to make it harder for women to access "quality" healthcare.

Gillum has proposed a law "protecting women’s access to no-cost contraceptive care" under Obamacare.

Environment

Gillum wants to do more to transition Florida to clean energy as rapidly as possible to fight climate change.

"Achieving this goal will put us on a path to a completely clean energy economy, creating thousands of new jobs in Florida, and cleaner air and healthier families," according to his campaign.

He wants to implement Florida safeguards to prevent "corporate polluters" from discharging "unlimited amounts" of mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide and other pollutants into the air and water.

DeSantis wants to stop toxic algae discharges, protect beaches while expanding and protecting the state's water supply. Gillum has also made a similar pledge.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Andrew Gillum (Left) and Ron DeSantis. Photos by Joe Raedle/Getty Images.