Gwen Graham is running for governor. (Twitter)
Gwen Graham is running to become the next governor of Florida.
On Wednesday, May 3rd, Gwen Graham announced that she will be entering Florida’s 2018 gubernatorial race. In the Democratic primary, she’ll be running against Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, and Chris King, a businessman.
“My love for Florida runs deep,” Graham said upon announcing her candidacy. “My dreams for Florida run wide. But my patience for inaction has run out. That is why I’m running for governor — and that is why I’m determined to win.”
The winner of this election will be replacing Republican Governor Rick Scott, who may not seek a third term due to Florida’s gubernatorial term limits.
So who is Gwen Graham, the latest candidate for Florida governor? Here’s what you need to know about her.
1. She Served in the House of Representatives for One Term
Gwen Graham talks with James Langevin on November 18, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Getty)
Gwen Graham is a former member of the United States House of Representatives.
Graham was elected to represent the state’s 2nd Congressional district in 2014, narrowly defeating her Republican opponent, incumbent Republican Congressman Steve Southerland.
After just a year in office, Graham announced that she would not seek re-election in 2016. This decision was likely influenced by the fact that her district underwent significant redistricting in 2016, and so it became solidly Republican and was unlikely to re-elect her.
That fall, Florida’s 2nd Congressional district elected Neal Dunn, a Republican.
At the time of her retirement announcement, Graham said that she was considering a run for governor, but she officially declared her candidacy on May 3rd, 2017.
2. She Has Voted Differently From the Rest of Her Party a Number of Times
Gwen Graham has some disagreements with her fellow Democrats and has voted differently from the rest of the party a few times.
For instance, according to the Tampa Bay Times, she voted for a bill that would halt the admittance of Syrian refugees until more stringent safeguards are put in place: The American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act of 2015.
“If we and the Congress of the United States can take action to give citizens a better sense of security, it is our obligation to do that,” Graham said at the time, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. “And it doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive with the refugee program. We can do both.”
In addition, Graham has voted to keep Guantanamo Bay open, and she voted against President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal.
The Lugar Center ranked Graham as the ninth most bipartisan member of Congress.
3. She is the Daughter of Former Florida Governor Bob Graham
Former Florida Senator Bob Graham speaks during a press conference on August 31, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Getty)
Gwen Graham is following in her father’s footsteps by pursuing the office of Florida governor.
After all, her father is Bob Graham, who served as the 38th governor of Florida from 1979 through 1987. Bob subsequently served as a U.S. senator from Florida from 1987 to 2005.
Bob Graham’s wife is Adele Khoury Graham, a teacher with whom he had four children, including Gwen Graham. When Gwen was just 15 years old, she moved into the governor’s mansion with her parents.
Gwen Graham has said that she wants her campaign to stand on its own, however.
“I’m so proud of Dad, but I stand on my own two feet,” she said during her campaign announcement. “I’ve certainly learned from him, but I would never expect anyone to support me simply because I am Dad’s daughter. I will be a governor that does focus on what he focused on, which is making the right decisions for Florida again.”
4. She First Got Involved in Politics During the 2004 Election
It was during the 2004 election that Gwen Graham first got involved in politics herself; at the time, her father, Bob, was running for president on the Democratic side.
However, Bob Graham dropped out of the presidential race after a heart attack and following open heart surgery. Gwen subsequently joined the campaign of Howard Dean.
“One of the reasons I decided to become part of the Dean for America campaign is the respect Gov. Dean has shown my father,” she told the Orlando Sentinel at the time.
Gwen Graham explained that after his heart attack, Bob called the other campaigns and asked them to not make his heart attack a political issue; the only one to return the call was Howard Dean.
After Howard Dean dropped out of the race, Gwen Graham went to work on the campaign of John Kerry.
Outside of politics, Gwen Graham has experience as an educator.
5. She Is Married & Has Three Children
Celebrating my youngest son’s graduation 👨🏼🎓 with the three best kids in the world. ❤️
Gwen Graham is married to Stephen Hurm, a law enforcement officer.
In 2016, Gwen Graham announced that her husband Stephen Hurm is battling stage 4 prostate cancer, according to Florida Politics.
Gwen Graham has three children, although they are from a previous marriage: Graham married Mark Logan in 1985, and she and Mark had three kids: Sarah, Graham and Mark Ernest.
Logan was the general counsel for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and for 13 years, Gwen Graham worked as a stay-at-home mom, according to the Sun Sentinel.