Florida gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 28 Democratic primary)

Economy and Jobs
Too many Floridians are forced to rely on working two and three jobs just to make ends meet. Too many are living paycheck to paycheck without ever achieving financial security. Too many feel that the opportunity to get ahead is no longer available to them. Too many self-serving politicians have allowed the big corporations and special interests to rig the system.

Andrew has proposed the “Fair Share for Florida’s Future” Plan to finally make real investments in our working families.

By adjusting our state corporate tax level to a modest 7.75%, which still allows corporations in Florida a massive tax cut and keeps our rate more than 1% lower than California, we will be able to recoup at least $1 billion back from the richest corporations and put it where we need it most — investing in our future.

My plan calls for rebuilding our public schools, paying teachers a minimum starting salary of $50,000, investing in early childhood education programs, and investing in SHOP 2.0 and vocational training to help get workers the training they need for higher paying jobs.

Creating an economy that works for all Floridians, instead of just those at the top, should be an imperative. Florida has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the country with the top 1% receiving over 30 times more than the bottom 99%. This inequality hurts our economic growth and stifles opportunities for Floridians to join the middle class and achieve the American Dream. Nearly half of Florida households struggle to make ends meet.

Under Andrew’s leadership, President Obama designated Tallahassee a TechHire city — at the time, one of 50 in the country and one of only two in the state of Florida — for being a leader in training workers to have advanced technical skills. In Tallahassee, Andrew developed a summer jobs program for hundreds of young people. He also led Tallahassee to become one of the only cities in Florida to eliminate their local business tax, saving over $2 million for businesses every year, and inserted over $5 million back into local businesses through a utility rebate program.

Andrew took the lead on preparing for the future economy by welcoming innovative technology. He crafted policy templates for ridesharing and homesharing that are mirrored around Florida.

As Governor, he would lead to harness our natural assets, rebuild our roads and bridges, and open training opportunities for anyone who wants to learn a skill to earn a good-paying job. Andrew believes that the Sunshine State should become the Solar Capital of the country, putting Floridians to work in jobs that cannot be outsourced overseas.

A Gillum administration will also push for a plan for Florida’s economic future that doesn’t rely on tourism alone, but maximizes all the assets of our state, including our best asset – our people – to build Florida’s future economy.

Healthcare
Andrew believes that healthcare should be a fundamental right, not a privilege. Instead, extreme politicians refuse to acknowledge that Floridians struggle everyday to keep themselves and their families from going bankrupt due to the lack or cost of healthcare. Andrew believes that Senator Sanders’ Medicare for All plan will help lower costs and expand coverage to more Floridians.

The Trump Health Care Plan is disastrous, and Governor Rick Scott’s complicity in the development of this plan is unacceptable. Trumpcare is nothing more than a tax cut for millionaires that cuts healthcare for millions and raises costs on everyone else. Hundreds of thousands of seniors would pay more for coverage and women who rely on Planned Parenthood will be denied coverage. Nearly 1.8 million Floridians stand to lose their healthcare by 2026 and it slashes Medicaid and Medicare.

Here in Florida, we never received the opportunity to benefit from the full impact the Affordable Care Act, because Governor Scott refused to extend Medicaid to over one million Floridians. As Governor, Andrew will work to expand Medicaid and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. Andrew has proposed passing a Florida law protecting 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.

As Governor, Andrew will restore Floridians’ healthcare security – the knowledge that if something horrible happens to a loved one that they’ll be taken care of. The knowledge that if they were born with a genetic disorder or chronic illness, that they won’t be denied coverage, or face the inhumane choice between bankruptcy or healthcare.

With that security comes an entire economy of good-paying jobs around it. People visit their doctor; they speak with a nurse or specialist; they undergo a test or a scan – those all require skilled workers, machines and facilities. As Governor, Andrew will restore healthcare security and rebuild our economy so that more Floridians have good-paying jobs in helping care for one another.

Education
Andrew believes that a quality, public education is still the best path to equal opportunity, but Florida’s education reform has been a failure. Our education system has failed our children, our parents, our teachers and our state. High stakes testing and teaching to the test does not show us what our kids know – just how well they test. It grades our students and our teachers for all the ills of society, and does too little to make sure that our kids arrive at school ready to learn.

Andrew believes that instead of demonizing our teachers, we should be supporting them and paying them fairly to do one of the most difficult jobs on Earth – to mold, shape, and develop humanity. As Governor, Andrew would work to rebuild Florida’s education system so that we begin earlier to make sure our kids are kindergarten ready. At the third grade, we should have 100% of our kids in our state reading at grade level and as they progress, they learn critical thinking skills to compete.

When our children graduate from high school they should have access to training for a career or a college education that won’t leave them with crippling debt. As Governor, Andrew would focus on making college debt free and encouraging businesses to share responsibility for educating the workforce they want to hire.

We need to invest in “SHOP 2.0” – a revitalization of vocational training in our public schools. We must integrate computer education into all of our vocational programs so that students can learn the skills they need to build a career and support a family.

Environment
Andrew believes that climate change is a real and urgent threat and that politicians, like Donald Trump, who call it a “hoax,” and Governor Rick Scott, who banned the words “climate change” and “global warming,” are putting us and future generations of Floridians at risk. These politicians have failed take climate change action, even as Florida has the most property at-risk in the nation. Not only does lack of action threaten the future of the planet, it also ignores an enormous economic opportunity to make the U.S. the world’s leader in clean energy and to put people to work at every rung of the income ladder.

Over the last two decades,Tallahassee has reduced its carbon emission intensity by 40%, and under his leadership, has reduced the carbon footprint of electricity users in the city by 20%. The Mayor has worked both as Mayor and City Commissioner to implement and improve programs like free residential and commercial audits, low interest energy loans, and community outreach programs, as well breaking ground on the new 120 acre solar farm that will triple the City’s solar energy capacity.

Andrew believes that the best way to address the impacts of climate change is to embrace a plan to transition Florida to clean energy as rapidly as possible. Achieving this goal will put us on a path to a completely clean energy economy, create thousands of new jobs in Florida, and create cleaner air and healthier families.

Andrew is also deeply concerned with Donald Trump and the Republicans’ assault on the EPA and its critical role of protecting our children and families from toxic pollution. If Trump and the Republicans roll back critical safeguards like the Clean Air and Water Act, Andrew will act to make sure that Florida implements its own safeguards, so that corporate polluters are not allowed to spew unlimited amounts of mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide or other pollutants into our air and water.

This approach will sharply reduce toxic pollutants like carbon, mercury and sulfur dioxide. Doctors say this will dramatically reduce the rates of heart disease, asthma, respiratory diseases, and even cancer – especially for children and seniors. We have an obligation to do something now, so we don’t leave our children and grandchildren a planet that is damaged and polluted.

As Governor, Andrew will take on the challenge of rebuilding Florida into a more resilient state and protecting our natural resources that make Florida the nation’s number one tourist destination. Andrew will make protecting the Everglades a priority, work to keep our water clean from toxic algae blooms, and fight to protect Florida’s access to clean water sources.

Our state’s climate change crisis is not confined to our environment – it’s an economic challenge that is threatening homes and businesses, and if we simply leaned into this challenge, we could create good-paying jobs that you can’t outsource overseas. These jobs would allow people to better support their families as we manage the greatest environmental threat Florida faces. Governor Scott has turned his back on creating these jobs and the wages that come with them.

Women's Rights
When women succeed, Florida succeeds. As Governor, Andrew would support the state legislature ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. Florida should make clear that civil rights will not be denied based on gender.

Andrew also believes that our state will thrive under Equal Pay for Equal Work and when women are given the equal opportunity to succeed at every level. As Governor, Andrew would push for equal pay legislation that levels the playing field for women in the workplace. A Gillum administration will work to protect and encourage women-owned businesses and lead by example to hire the best and brightest women to help lead our state forward.

When Governor Rick Scott and the Republican legislature tried to defund Planned Parenthood, Andrew called them out for jeopardizing women’s health with ideological games. As Governor, Andrew will stop the Legislature from using women’s health as a political football. Andrew trusts women to make their own healthcare decisions with their doctor – not politicians – and he will oppose any attempt to make it harder for women to access quality healthcare.

As Mayor of Tallahassee, Andrew launched a Family Friendly workplaces program, with over 100 businesses from the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Priorities like paid sick days, work-sharing, health insurance, mental health programs, safe and clean breast-feeding rooms, on-site childcare centers and subsidies for childcare, attract talent and limit employee turnover. As Governor, Andrew will work to make Florida the best place to work, and the best state in the country for children and families.

Criminal Justice Reform
Andrew believes that if you make a mistake, you pay the penalty, but you should get a second chance. Our society too often punishes people perpetually for a mistake. One of Andrew’s first acts as Mayor was to usher in a new Ban the Box Policy to help former offenders find employment in the City, and he continued to fight for more programs focused on helping offenders and at-risk offenders from falling deeper into the criminal justice system. Andrew believes that the best way to fight crime in any city is to ensure that every man or woman in a community has the chance to earn a good-paying job that allows them to support their family.

Andrew also launched Operation Safe Neighborhoods; a community collaborative focused on building stronger relationships between citizens and law enforcement, and better applying resources in the City’s highest crime areas. Through increased investments in law enforcement, diversion and re-entry programs, and an expansion of human services in the highest crime areas of the City, recent statistics have shown more than 8% decrease in violent crime and a nearly 14% decrease in total crime within the City.

As a City Commissioner, Andrew helped create the Palmer-Munroe Teen Center, equipped with the Community Connections Restorative Justice Program. This new center works with youth offenders to build non-violent communication skills within teens to help them adjust their life trajectory and make better choices. The program has resulted in a 90%+ success rate among recidivism rates for youth who complete the program.

Immigration
Immigrants strengthen our society and have played a vital role in Florida becoming one of the leading economic states in the Union. Andrew is the only candidate for Governor who has led to oppose both Donald Trump and Rick Scott’s policies that target immigrants.

President Trump’s attack on cities friendly to immigrants must end. His attacks are not a projection of strength, but a reflection of weakness. Trump’s actions are inconsistent with our highest values and cause us to shrink from our rich history as a nation of immigrants. As Governor, Andrew will continue to fight mass deportation policies that threaten to split families and hurt Florida’s economy.

Andrew believes that a decision between security or compassionate immigration policy are false choices; we can have them both. Immigrants attend public schools alongside our children and graduate as valedictorians and standout students. They are critical members of our state’s economy, and contribute to the culture of our society. As Governor, Andrew will use every effort to protect Florida from President Trump’s attacks on immigrants.

Immigrants are an essential cornerstone of Florida’s economy. According to a 2015 report, from 2006 to 2010, there were 286,144 new immigrant business owners in Florida, and new immigrant business owners had total net business income of $13.3 billion. In 2013, immigrants comprised 24.5% of the state’s workforce.

LGBTQ Equality
Andrew has always been a staunch supporter of LGBT rights during his years as a public leader. As a City Commissioner, Gillum led the charge to expand domestic partner health benefits from City employees. As Mayor, when at least a dozen Florida counties were refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Florida, Gillum raised his voice in opposition and extended an invitation for couples to get married in Florida’s Capital City.

Despite the tremendous victory for equal rights that was achieved when the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage a constitutional right in the United States, there still remains much work ahead to advance equality for LGBT Floridians. In Florida, gay, lesbian, and bisexual citizens may not be protected from discrimination in public or in the workplace from one county to the next. Transgender Floridians may not have the right to use the restrooms that align with their gender identity depending on the community in which they find themselves.

As Governor, Andrew will work to address these issues through statewide policies that ensure equal treatment and equal rights for all Floridians from every corner of our state.

Gun Safety
Andrew is the only candidate who has fought the powerful gun lobby in court and won. Since 2014, he has been involved in a legal battle against the gun lobby, including the National Rifle Association to protect a law that bans firing a weapon in a city park, where our kids play and our families picnic. Earlier this year, Andrew won.

To protect against this kind of extreme overreach, Andrew founded the Campaign to Defend Local Solutions, a national coalition of organizations, advocates, and elected officials focused on fighting back pre-emption and allowing local communities the ability to pass local policies that keep their communities safe.

After extreme state legislators and the corporate gun lobby proposed more bills that failed to solve the gun violence problem in Florida, Andrew called for a moratorium on all gun deregulation legislation until our leaders can come together to address the real issue: gun violence. He believes that no mother or grandmother should fear walking into an airport. No father, son, or daughter should lose their life for meeting those they love for a night out. No parent should lose sleep wondering if a stray bullet will take their baby that day.

As Governor, Andrew will never back down from commonsense solutions to keep our streets, parks and schools safe from gun violence.

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Gwen on education
For Gwen, education isn’t just an issue on a position page, it is a passion that has defined most of her adult life. As a mother, Gwen raised three children who attended Florida’s public schools, volunteering countless hours in their classrooms. As a lawyer, Gwen worked for the Leon County School District, working with parents, teachers, and administrators to increase teacher salaries and raise standards.

From personal experience, Gwen knows there are a few things that work: hiring the best possible teachers and staying out of their way, ensuring that education isn’t one-size fits all, but works for the hopes and dreams of each individual student, and creating an environment that encourages parents to be more engaged in their children’s education.

But right now, Tallahassee is bought and sold by the education industry, with corporations making millions off for-profit charter schools and high-stakes testing. At the same time, every year, the legislature plays a cynical shell game with the lottery money that they promised would go to enhance our public schools.

When Gwen is governor, all of that will end. She will bring down the education industry and get our schools back focused on learning. She’ll work to increase teacher salaries to at least the national average, and ensure that the lottery money is being used for educational enhancements, like increasing technology in our schools, creating innovative education tracks, and fully funding Bright Futures and other scholarship programs so that our kids, should they choose, can afford to go to college here in Florida.

And if the legislature won’t work with her, she will use her bright red veto pen to reject all of their pet priorities, and bring them back to Tallahassee over and over again, until they get it done.

Gwen also knows that our economy is dependent on universities that turn out world class students. As governor, she will work to keep tuition low, fully fund need-based assistance programs, support Florida’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and encourage more partnerships between the companies looking to hire Florida students, and the universities who will educate them.

This isn’t new to Gwen. In Congress, she sponsored the Middle STEP Act, to extend technical and career education to middle schools and keep students interested in learning. She also sponsored the Employer Participation in Student Loan Assistance Act to help students pay off their student loans.

Gwen on the environment
For Gwen, protecting our environment is personal. She grew up enjoying Florida’s natural treasures, from South Florida’s beaches to North Florida’s springs. That’s why in law school, she performed pro bono work on behalf of the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, in Congress she fought to protect our land and water, and as governor, she’ll reverse the damage years of neglect and pollution have caused to our environment.

Time is running out for Florida’s land, water and clean air. Our beaches, which attract millions of tourists each year, are regularly closed because of bacteria. Our rivers are filled with green slime algae. Our springs are at risk of disappearing forever.

These effects aren’t just damaging for our environment — they threaten our economy and very way of life in Florida.

Gwen is leading the fight to protect our environment. She is dedicated to reversing course and committed to putting Florida back on a path of conservation to protect our clean air and waters.

When a massive toxic sinkhole opened up in Central Florida and state regulators tried to cover it up, Gwen fought for the public to know by exposing Governor Scott’s secrecy. As governor, she will ensure that the public is aware of any pollution spill that could impact Florida’s drinking water sources.

She understands fracking is one of the greatest threats to our clean drinking water. That is why as a member of congress she supported local governments in the fight against fracking, and, as governor, she’ll work with the legislature or use executive powers to ban fracking in Florida once and for all.

Gwen has worked firsthand with ecologists on wetlands restoration, and, as governor, she will require the legislature to spend Amendment One funds how Florida voters intended – to preserve our state’s land and water.

She has witnessed the algae contaminating too many of our rivers, lakes and shores. She believes the state must work with the federal government to purchase land south of Lake Okeechobee to restore the river of grass and end the algae crisis killing our environment — and we must restore the integrity of the state’s water management districts.

In Congress, Gwen led the charge to save the Apalachicola Bay. She performed a Workday with oystermen to understand firsthand the difficulties they faced. Years of neglect have devastated the bay’s ecology and local oyster industry. As governor, she will take on Georgia and Alabama to ensure their mismanagement doesn’t further hurt Florida’s hard working oystermen.

Representing counties along the Gulf Coast, she saw the harmful effects of the BP oil spill for years. Drilling isn’t worth the risk to our tourism economy, environment or military operations. In Congress, she worked with Senator Bill Nelson to fight oil drilling off our beaches, and, as governor, she’ll fight Donald Trump to keep drilling off our Gulf and Atlantic beaches.

Gwen believes in the science — and common sense evidence — that shows climate change is already hurting Florida. She voted to support President Obama’s Clean Power Plan and took a stand against Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Gwen has put forward a full plan to combat the effects of climate change: With Gwen as governor, Florida will join the Climate Alliance of states upholding the Paris Agreement, ban fracking and offshore oil drilling, and create a green economy that works for every Floridian.

Gwen on the economy
Gwen is driven by her love for the people of our state, that’s why she is continuing her father’s tradition of Workdays — where she spends a full day of work in your boots, uniforms and hard hats.

Working alongside Floridians, Gwen has seen firsthand how politicians in Tallahassee have pushed the wrong priorities for the wrong people. They’re bought and sold by corporations and special interests, while too many real Floridians are left struggling just to get by.

We live in beautiful Florida. It should not be just the tourists and millionaires who enjoy our state — every Floridian should be able to enjoy all Florida has to offer.

That’s why Gwen is determined to do the obvious things other states have already done, like raising the minimum wage and providing paid sick leave to workers — but those commonsense ideas, alone, aren’t a full economic strategy.

To create jobs here in Florida for Floridians, Gwen believes we must expand technical and career-based education – starting at middle school and continuing through high school and in community colleges for adults.

She will work to invest in Florida’s infrastructure — improving our roads, bridges, mass transit and other infrastructure to relieve our congested highways, improve our quality of life, and attract new businesses to our state.

And Gwen will diversify Florida’s economy, to complement our tourism and agriculture industries with new jobs in technology and robotics, solar energy and healthcare. We must build an economy with jobs that will keep our children and grandchildren living and working in our communities.

Gwen on healthcare
Gwen personally experienced how difficult it is to go through a health crisis when her husband, Steve, was recently diagnosed with stage-four prostate cancer. They met with doctors, attended chemo treatments and faced the physical and emotional challenges, together. Today, Steve is in full remission — and Gwen is fighting to make sure every Floridian has affordable access to insurance, healthcare and positive outcomes.

Gwen believes healthcare is a human right and that insurance companies shouldn’t decide who lives or dies.

In Congress, she voted against the repeated attempts to repeal Obamacare and she fought to protect coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and to prevent insurance companies from discriminating against women. With Donald Trump in the White House, Gwen is fighting against Republican attempts to replace Obamacare with legislation that will raise premiums and increase costs for Floridians over the age of 55.

As Governor, Gwen will expand Medicaid and work to hold insurance companies accountable. She’ll work to reduce the cost of premiums and medications.

Civil Rights

Gwen Graham believes voting should be encouraged and accessible and that every Floridian deserves to be treated equally under the law.

She supports a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens who have completed their sentences, and, as governor, would use the office’s executive power to restore rights to non-violent returning citizens.

In Congress, Gwen joined Representative John Lewis in co-sponsoring legislation to restore the Voting Rights Act. As governor, she will work to encourage and enable voting by:

Providing greater access to voting on college campuses Extending early voting hours and locations Fighting for automatic voter registration for all Florida citizens Restoring voting rights to those who have paid their debts to society Gwen believes returning citizens who have served their time deserve a second chance, which is why she spent a Workday with Operation New Hope in Jacksonville to learn more about criminal justice reform and efforts to help returning citizens with workforce training, housing and family reintegration.

Gwen also believes the 2.5 million Floridians with disabilities should enjoy the power of equal rights and opportunities, dignity, choice, independence and freedom from abuse, neglect and discrimination. She will work toward a barrier-free, inclusive Florida.

Gwen on energy
Gwen believes utilities companies have manufactured an artificial addiction to fossil fuels in Florida. They have charged Floridians for plants that are never built, cleared the way for pipelines into our state and polluted our air and water.

Gwen’s taking on utility companies and their Wall Street backers to end our dependence on fossil fuels and finally make the Sunshine State the Solar State.

She doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk — in this case, with a harness on a roof. Gwen personally spent a day installing solar panels on the home of a veteran to learn more about green energy.

And with that knowledge, she’s presented a plan to build a green economy that works for all Floridians:

Gwen will implement a renewable energy standard that makes our state less reliant on fossil fuels and continues President Obama’s Clean Power Plan to transition away from coal Gwen will appoint consumer advocates and commissioners who believe in science to Florida’s Public Service Commission to give solar companies a chance at competition with the corporate utilities Gwen will work with Democrats and Republicans in the legislature to end Florida’s ban on power purchasing agreements to give consumers and homeowners more choice in where their electricity comes from She opposes fracking in Florida and oil drilling in the Everglades or off our beaches. As governor, Gwen will ban fracking in our state. She has been a leader on the issue, challenging the state’s permitting of oil and gas exploration. She believes our unique geology and vulnerable aquifer are not suitable to fracking or drilling and that we must protect our water.

Gwen on Women’s Rights
For years, Republican leaders in Tallahassee and Washington have led the attack against women’s healthcare rights. They’ve attempted to completely eliminate a woman’s right to choose and to defund Planned Parenthood.

Gwen is fighting back. As governor, she’ll ensure Florida is a state that respects women and gives them the support they need to be successful. Governor Gwen Graham will veto any law that would compromise a woman’s right to choose.

She has a record of fighting for women. Gwen co-sponsored legislation to renew the Equal Rights Amendment, fought for Equal Pay, and fiercely defended a woman’s right to choose in Congress.

She’s continuing that fight by working toward parental leave and paid sick time, so no Floridian has to choose between their health and children or their paycheck.

That’s how she earned 100% ratings from NARAL and Planned Parenthood and why EMILY’s List endorsed her campaign on day one.

Gwen on LGBTQ Rights
Gwen believes LGBTQ rights are human rights.

When she ran for Congress in North Florida, pundits and analysts said Gwen couldn’t support LGBTQ rights and win — but on the first day of her campaign she stood up for marriage equality and said every Floridian should have the right to marry. Voters, even those who disagreed, respected Gwen for standing up for her beliefs.

In Congress, Gwen co-sponsored the Equality Act to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

While many cities in Florida have made progress on banning discrimination, the legislature has stalled a statewide human rights statute for years.

Gwen has pledged, as governor, she’ll fight for a statewide human rights statute that bans discrimination for gender, sexual orientation or gender identity and she will sign an executive order immediately doing the same in the governor’s office.

Gwen’s LGBTQ record has earned her a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign.

Gun Safety

As a mother, Gwen is heartbroken by the gun violence in our state. As a Floridian, she is incensed. And, as governor, she is ready to turn our anguish into action.

Gwen believes we can live in a Florida with fewer gun deaths, free from mass shootings, where every Floridian feels safe. But to save lives and build that safer Florida, we must take meaningful action: we must pass common sense gun safety laws.

When she ran for Congress, the NRA and gun lobby spent nearly $300,000 against her — but it didn’t work. Gwen beat the gun lobby and the A-rated, Republican Congressman they endorsed.

After the devastating Pulse Attack, while Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature refused to act, Gwen joined Congressman John Lewis and House Democrats in the sit-in to demand common sense gun safety. She co-sponsored legislation that would save lives: “No Fly, No Buy” to prevent suspected terrorists from purchasing guns; a national universal background check system; and legislation to notify the FBI when an individual investigated for terrorism attempts to purchase a gun.

On February 14th, the nation watched in horror as children ran for their lives from an active shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. In a matter of minutes, 17 people were killed, more than a dozen were critically injured, and countless lives were changed forever.

Following the shooting, Gwen re-iterated her proposals for gun safety, and she called on Governor Rick Scott to immediately suspend the sale of assault weapons until the legislature passed real gun safety legislation.

As governor, Gwen will fight to:

Ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; Implement comprehensive universal background checks on all gun sales to stop criminals and terrorists from purchasing guns; Require abusers to surrender firearms when a protective order is issued against them to protect victims of domestic violence; Invest in mental health and give law enforcement the tools they need to prevent those with serious mental illness from purchasing or keeping firearms. As the wife of a law enforcement officer, Gwen understands the sense of protection and safety a firearm can provide to those properly trained on how to use them. She won’t allow the NRA to turn this into a false Second Amendment vs. Gun Safety debate. She respects law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen — and believes we can respect their rights while saving lives in Florida.

Gwen on immigration
Gwen understands that Florida is stronger because of our diversity. She supports comprehensive immigration reform and a pathway to citizenship.

In Congress, she voted against extreme Republican bills attacking immigrants — including legislation to roll back President Obama’s DAPA and DACA, which give legal status to DREAMERS and their families.

Gwen is the granddaughter of a Syrian-Lebanese refugee and believes we have a moral obligation to help those fleeing violence and persecution. She has personally met with Syrian refugees in Egypt. In Congress, she supported legislation that would certify the refugee screening process — and strongly opposes any effort to ban refugees. She strongly condemns Rick Scott’s proposed refugee ban and Trump’s Muslim ban.

Veterans and Security

While in Congress, Gwen was Florida’s only Democrat serving on the House Armed Services Committee, where she fought for our state’s troops, veterans and their families.

The first piece of legislation she introduced was the VETS Act — Veterans, Education, Training Act — a plan to hire personal care coordinators to help veterans recover from war injuries and navigate government red tape to receive benefits. Her legislation and pressure on the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs successfully led to the hiring of more recovery coordinators.

On the Committee, she advocated for Florida’s bases, to ensure our men and women in uniform have the support they need to safely complete their mission, and to support military families.

Gwen launched a program to encourage businesses to hire veterans, she worked to award veterans with the medals and recognition they deserved, and she returned more than $2.5 million to Florida families, seniors, and veterans.

Gwen and her husband, Steve, volunteer at the Annual North Florida Veterans Stand Down to help homeless and struggling veterans. She spent a day with the Honor Flight program assisting a World War II veteran in traveling to Washington and visited Florida heroes at a state-run veterans nursing home.

And she learned firsthand how important Florida’s role is in supporting our national defense while flying in a T-38 jet on a Workday at Tyndall Air Force Base.

With more than 1.5 million veterans living in Florida, our state has the third largest veteran population in the country. Unfortunately, today, Florida also has the second-highest population of homeless veterans.

Gwen believes Florida should welcome and support all those who have served in uniform. She will fight for affordable housing for our veterans and she will support the state’s veteran nursing homes that provide comfort to our greatest generation.

Gwen on Florida seniors
Gwen believes Florida should be a safe home for seniors, whether they’ve spent their entire lives here or retire to the Sunshine State.

In Congress, she voted for bipartisan legislation to strengthen Medicare by providing a permanent solution to renew doctors’ incentives and ensuring seniors continue to receive the care they deserve. She opposes block-granting Medicaid, which will greatly limit the funds Florida receives, and believes we must strengthen Medicaid coverage in Florida for seniors who rely on the program for long-term care. And she fought to protect Social Security.

Gwen sponsored The Senior Citizen Protection Act which would create a federal database of criminals convicted of scamming or abusing seniors to protect older Floridians.

As governor, she’ll work to keep property taxes low for seniors with fixed incomes, to protect Medicaid for those receiving long-term care, and ensure our state is safe for every citizen.

Gwen on ethics and government transparency Gwen believes sunshine is the best disinfectant and we must restore transparency to our state’s government.

In Congress, she went above and beyond what’s required to operate an office accountable to the people. She sponsored legislation to ban members of Congress from spending taxpayer funds on first-class flights and luxury rental cars.

When a massive toxic sinkhole opened up in Central Florida and state regulators tried to cover it up, Gwen fought to expose it to the public. She used Florida’s Sunshine Laws to request public documents and shine a light on the state’s secrecy.

As governor, she will fight to protect Florida’s Sunshine Laws, end backroom deals and bring transparency back to Florida’s Capitol.

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Jobs and Wages
Florida’s families deserve a raise, and Jeff Greene is running for governor to give them one. Jeff knows what it’s like to lose everything and live paycheck to paycheck. His father saw the family’s financial security crumble when the textile industry collapsed in the Northeast during the 1960s.

To make ends meet, his dad worked a vending-machine route in Palm Beach, and Jeff’s mother waited tables at The Breakers hotel. Jeff built his business from nothing with the can-do, hard-working attitude his parents taught him and the entrepreneurial spirit he taught himself. He wants the same for Florida’s families.

Previous governors have said job growth alone was the path to prosperity. But Florida’s families have learned the hard way that’s simply not true. Working longer and harder for less is all that these empty promises have delivered for Florida’s workforce. When a mother or father has to work three jobs to put food on the table and a roof over their family’s head, something is terribly wrong.

Rather than spending precious taxpayer dollars on incentives to lure low-paying jobs to Florida, we should embrace our beautiful environment and low tax climate to add a third dimension to our appeal. That’s a fully trained and adaptable workforce.

We must integrate our community colleges, public universities and K-12 learning opportunities to ensure we can do any work businesses bring our way – as long as it pays a living wage!

Jeff fully supports raising Florida’s minimum wage to $15 per hour. It’s only fair and ensures Floridians have the dignity of fair pay for an honest day’s work.

But when Jeff is governor, wage growth won’t stop at the minimum wage. He will ensure that everyone benefits from expanded wages. That means women receive equal pay for equal work. Wage equality is as important as wage growth. This requires understanding the historic issues which have depressed women’s wages and making sure Florida fights back.

We want the companies coming here to know we value their workers no matter their sex, and that extends to our friends in the LGBTQ+ community. Companies that offer good pay value states that value their workforce. And Florida’s welcome mat is open to everyone.

Raising pay isn’t the only answer. To bring those high-paying jobs to Florida, we need a trained workforce, and that means changing our education system. To see Jeff’s plan for reinventing Florida’s schools to adapt to today’s economic environment, please click here.

Education
Jeff Greene is the product of public schools. They prepared him for the future, enabling him to get a great college education with help from government-subsidized student loans and work-study programs. Every child in Florida deserves the same opportunity. But Florida’s schools today are the product of 20 years of Republican rule. Education funding has been held hostage, and we are experiencing a true state of education emergency: our public schools rank 40th in the country. In today’s system, the quality of your education depends on where you live and the size of your parents’ paycheck.

When Jeff is elected governor, he promises to change that. His vision for Florida prioritizes public education and ensures that every student in our state receives a world-class education. He is committed to giving educators a well-deserved raise. And he will stop the flow of public dollars to private and charter ‘schools with no rules.’

Florida’s kids will have to compete in a global marketplace for the jobs of the future. The current education system has limited student achievement by simply pushing kids to pass high-stakes tests. Jeff wants to transform our education system to bring best practices from other states and countries, just like he has at the Greene School. That’s the innovative, non-profit, need-blind Kindergarten through 7th-grade school Jeff and his wife founded in West Palm Beach. It has never taken a dime of public funds.

Jeff understands that kids learn to read until the third grade, but after that, they read to learn. Sadly, only 54% of Florida’s third graders can read at grade level. Things only get worse: 64% of high school graduates aren’t proficient readers…and only 19% of that same group of students can perform grade-level mathematics. Florida is failing our students and slamming closed the door to future success.

That’s why Jeff supports two years of full-time Pre-K to prepare kids to learn when they hit elementary school – and increased resources so that they leave the K-12 system prepared for whatever is next.

But we can’t really say we value education as a state until we value the educators who propel our future generations forward every day. That’s why teachers deserve a raise in Florida. Increasing their pay means we can attract the best and the brightest. It also means we can reward the hard work our dedicated teachers have done for years without fair compensation.

Wouldn’t you want the best teacher possible for your child? We can, and should, have that for every child in Florida – and with Jeff Greene, we will.

Criminal Justice Reform
The scales of justice are not balanced in Florida. Our prisons are overcrowded. Our sentences are unequal. And we’ve disenfranchised men and women who have earned their right to a second chance.

Too many Floridians are languishing in jail, leading to lost wages, lost jobs and broken families. As governor, Jeff Greene will work to expand civil citations over criminal ones. He will reduce penalties for non-violent crimes. And he will invest in diversion programs to help build people up – not lock them away.

Jeff will also reform the bail-bond system, which is unfairly applied. And he’ll work to eliminate private prisons that are mismanaged and not focused on rehabilitating inmates. Speaking of rehabilitation, Jeff will work to expand access to drug treatment programs and sentencing reform. That way we will help, not criminalize, those with addiction and mental health issues.

Jeff believes in ending mandatory minimum sentences and empowering judges to decide what punishment fits the crime. He understands that for our system to work on behalf of our citizens, Florida judges must represent Florida’s communities. So he will appoint diverse judges who make honest and fair rulings.

Jeff also understands that the school-to-prison pipeline is real. He understands that when people are in desperate situations, they do desperate things. That’s why for him, it all comes back to high-quality education and fair-paying jobs.

Standing Up to Trump on Immigration
Donald Trump has taken our country hostage with dangerous rhetoric that is not only unacceptable, it’s un-American. He has sided with violent white supremacists. He has called Mexican immigrants “rapists.” And he has torn immigrant children from their parents.

Trump is ripping families apart by deporting good men and women who have been positive members of their communities for decades. He should be clearing a path for their citizenship instead.

Trump’s separation of infants and children at the southern border is a human rights violation and an international embarrassment. He made an executive order supposedly to end the separations. But in reality, he doesn’t show a commitment to family reunification. The president has done nothing to end the inhumane treatment of immigrants under his “zero tolerance” policy.

This is especially personal for Jeff and his family. At 5 years old, without knowing a word of English, Jeff’s wife Mei Sze and her family fled their home in Malaysia to escape ethnic persecution. They were forced to immigrate to Australia. There they were taken in, together, and empowered to restart their lives after being torn from everything they knew.

It was a very difficult time for Mei and her family, but it could have been so much worse. She could have been one of these children on our southern border, ripped from her family and literally thrown in a cage — not allowed to hug her siblings, unable to communicate with her parents.

We must have compassion in the face of extreme adversity. We must show respect for every person, no matter their race, religion, nationality, or the language they speak.

Floridians have spoken up and spoken out against Trump. They want a governor who will do the same. Jeff Greene has stood up to Trump on national television and in the president’s own dining room. As the next governor of Florida, Jeff will continue to stand up to the bully-in-chief in defense of ALL Floridians.

LGBTQ+ Equality
In Florida, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity isn’t prohibited by law for housing, employment, public accommodation and education. As governor, Jeff Greene will work to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ+ Floridians. This includes support for the Florida Competitive Workforce Act to protect workers from being discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and Florida’s ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

He will work to ban bullying of students based on sexual orientation and gender identification while Donald Trump and his Education Secretary Betsy DeVos won’t. Jeff is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage, gay adoption rights, and equality for all.

Women’s Rights & the Right to Choose
Jeff Greene’s life changed when he met his wife, Mei Sze. They fell in love, chose to start a family, and are now happily raising three young sons. The key word here is chose.

Jeff understands that a woman’s ability to chart her own path, achieving economic stability and independence, is directly correlated to her ability to choose when, and if, to become a mother. Republicans want to keep women from charting their own path on their own terms.

But when Jeff becomes governor, he will fight for a woman’s right to choose and will veto any bill that infringes upon that right. He will also reject any legislation that threatens to defund Planned Parenthood and the critical health care that Planned Parenthood provides. He will work to repeal state funding for crisis pregnancy centers, which pedal dangerous misinformation about safe and legal family planning options.

Wages also are an important issue for women. Florida women make 87 cents for every dollar that men earn, and that gap is even wider for women of color. Jeff will make closing the wage gap a priority. He will ensure that workplace discrimination, sexual harassment and coercion are not tolerated.

Common Sense Gun Safety Solutions
From Travon Martin to the Pulse nightclub and the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida has long been at the center of the gun control debate. But while politicians talk, more lives are being senselessly lost to gunfire. Jeff will take on the NRA (National Rifle Association) to make sure that Floridians’ lives and safety come first.

The tragedy at Stoneman Douglas spurred Floridians—especially students—to demand action on gun safety. State lawmakers took a long-overdue first step by raising the age to purchase all guns from 18 to 21, raising the waiting period for purchases to three days, and outlawing the use of bump stocks. But Jeff Greene knows that more needs to be done to keep Florida’s schools and communities safe.

As governor, Jeff will work to enact common-sense gun safety solutions. That includes a ban on military-style assault rifles to keep them out of schools and off the streets. He also wants to ban high-capacity magazines and close the loophole that allows firearms to be purchased at gun shows without a background check.

Jeff believes we need to shine a spotlight on underserved communities, from Miami’s Liberty City to Tallahassee’s French Town, and everywhere in between, where gun violence is an everyday problem.

Jeff understands that we need to make sure people have opportunities to lead productive, fulfilling lives. And we need to make sure that they don’t get caught up in dangerous situations out of desperation. He will do more to bring high-paying jobs, strengthen our public schools and give people a chance to do well. That should keep them from turning to gangs or guns.

Protecting Our Environment
From the Panhandle to the Keys, Florida’s coast is crucial to our economy and to Floridians’ way of life. Jeff Greene strongly opposes the expansion of drilling off Florida’s coast that was originally proposed by the Trump administration. Jeff will support funding to protect our beaches and shores so that they can be enjoyed by generations to come.

With toxic algae threatening our waterways, with the now-annual bloom already blanketing 90% of Lake Okeechobee. Jeff will address this crisis immediately by funding CERP, addressing runoff from farming, septic leakage and lawn fertilizing, and prioritizing our environment over special interests, before it’s too late.

Jeff knows global warming is affecting Florida. As a resident of Palm Beach County, he experiences it himself firsthand. Rising sea levels are already bad. And they’re only going to get worse, unless we can come up with a solution…fast.

Through his efforts with The Greene Institute, Jeff will call upon leading experts from around the world to come up with an innovative and sustainable solution for Florida. The Institute’s Managing the Disruption conference brings together the finest minds in academia, business, and government.

Jeff believes Trump’s decision to drop out of the Paris Climate Accord was a terrible mistake that threatens the long-term health of the planet. But that won’t stop Jeff from taking action for Florida.

As governor, Jeff will also work to protect the Everglades and prevent Big Sugar from ruining this natural treasure. He will protect environmentally sensitive lands and mitigate saltwater intrusion that threatens sources of fresh water for millions of Floridians.

Your Healthcare
When Jeff Greene was growing up, a visit to the doctor wasn’t always within his family’s reach. He understands what a day’s lost wages may mean for a family. And he understands the fear that can come from opening a medical bill.

But this will change under Jeff’s watch. He believes that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Jeff will work to ensure access to high-quality, low-cost healthcare for all Floridians. This includes access to medical marijuana to help ease the pain of Floridians who are sick and suffering, and freedom from discrimination of medical use. And, he’ll protect a woman’s right to choose.

Rick Scott should be ashamed of himself. Florida ranks 49th in the country when it comes to affordable healthcare. It’s one of a shrinking number of states that have refused to expand Medicaid, threatening vulnerable lives and costing us dearly.

As governor, Jeff will expand Medicaid to provide healthcare coverage to more than 700,000 Floridians who can’t afford it. This is good for Floridians who can afford healthcare too. It has been estimated that Medicaid expansion would save the state over $500 million.

Jeff will also fight back against proposed cuts to Medicare coming out of Washington. He will work to affordably expand high-quality, low-cost health insurance for children through Florida KidCare and its partners. Because everyone deserves to be covered.

Providing Affordable Housing
Florida is one of the hardest states in the nation for low-income residents to find affordable housing. In fact, nearly 800,000 low-income Floridians are forced to spend more than half of their income on rent. People in our state literally have to choose between paying rent and feeding their families. That is unacceptable.

As governor, Jeff Greene will make strong investments in affordable housing. As a result, Florida workers and retirees will be able to live without spending beyond their means.

And he knows what he’s talking about. As a successful real-estate entrepreneur, Jeff has experience building affordable housing. He believes in requiring developers to create affordable housing if they want to develop higher-rent properties.

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A Fair Economy
As Governor, Chris will encourage a fair economy for all Floridians. With well-paying jobs disappearing, Florida needs to raise the minimum wage and create jobs that can actually support families. Chris’ business has done it, and Florida can’t stay afloat unless its economy works for all and not just some.

Gender Equity
Florida can only take the lead when all its people, especially women, are treated fairly. Chris will work to protect the right to choose, end workplace discrimination, and close the pay gap, so everyone can reach their fullest potential.

Affordable Housing
Over the last decade, Chris has revitalized thousands of run-down apartments, turning them into thriving communities. Chris will put seniors and everyday Floridians first by reversing how state government has squandered affordable housing funds.

Equality
For 10 years, a bill to protect LGBTQ individuals from discrimination has been in the Florida legislature waiting to be passed. As Governor, Chris will make sure that bill is passed so every Floridian has equal protection under the law.

Our Environment
Climate change is bad for our future and bad for our economy. Despite rising sea levels, an imperiled everglades, and crisis-level algae blooms, Tallahassee leaders continue to advance policies that fail to protect our environment. Chris believes we must act now. Florida’s beauty must be preserved for future generations.

Health Care
No one should have to go to the ER for routine health care. Even though nearly 2.6 million Floridians have no health insurance, Tallahassee turned away federal funds that would have provided low-cost preventative care and expanded healthcare access, all while creating thousands of jobs.

Homegrown Jobs
Tallahassee has showered incentives on out-of-state corporations that pay low wages and export most of their profits. As a progressive entrepreneur, Chris knows we need to refocus on homegrown businesses that create jobs and prosperity here at home.

Ethics
Chris sees how Tallahassee leaders have used public office for private gain while letting Florida’s economy decline. It’s time to extend bans on lobbying by former public officials, keep them from getting extra pay-outs, and force government out of the dark and back into the sunshine.

Workforce Training
In a rapidly changing economy, many workers are finding it nearly impossible to find a job that can support a family. Chris has a plan for new institutes located and administered in our state’s community college system to equip workers with career-ready skills and connect them to well-paying jobs.

Affordable College
Kids strive for the opportunity to follow their dreams and employers want more educated workers, yet higher education is unaffordable for too many Floridians. Chris’ college access program has built a model for students to graduate without crushing debt, pursue their careers and energize our communities.

Veterans & Military
Our service men and women risk their lives for our country, and they deserve the absolute best health care and career resources when they return home. Chris will work to improve support services for our veterans and military families.

Elections & Voting
Chris believes our leaders should be in the business of expanding the right to vote, not suppressing it. As Governor, he will restore voting rights to nonviolent ex-offenders, expand early voting, and make it easier to register to vote.

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Florida's Environment
Protecting Our Environment

Philip is running for Governor and is ready to tackle climate change and sea level rise on the first day in office, the same way he did as Mayor of Miami Beach. As Mayor of Miami Beach, Philip worked with community stakeholders on an unprecedented solution to keep his city from going underwater by investing in seawater pumps, raising roads, improving building codes, and installing seawalls. It worked, and Miami Beach has become a model for cities around the world confronting climate change.

Our state must be forward-thinking and build sustainable communities for our future. Local governments can’t do it all alone – we all need a partner in Tallahassee.

Water Quality

Florida is a growing state in both new residents and increased tourism, but Florida’s economy is built on a clean and ample supply of water. Our water is the lifeblood of our state and when we jeopardize that, we risk the health and safety of all Floridians and of our entire economy. Philip will fight to protect our environment by protecting our aquifer.

Stop Offshore Drilling & Invest in Renewable Energy Sources

It’s a clear fact: Floridians do not want offshore drilling. And not only is it wrong; it’s yesterday’s news. Fossil fuels are the old way and we must be ready to adapt so we can succeed in the future. Philip believes our energy future lies in renewable energy and that there is a reason we are called the “Sunshine State.” As Governor, he will encourage the growth of sustainability by investing heavily in solar and other sources of renewable energy. Philip will also make sure we hold polluters accountable, whether by looking into possible climate liability litigation against fossil-fuel polluters or by standing up to the Trump Administration’s pushes to implement oil-drilling off of Florida’s shores.

Protect our Everglades and National Parks

The Everglades is vitally important, not only as a natural treasure of the world, but also for the future of our state. If we do not protect the Everglades, we endanger not only the ecosystem and the wildlife there, but also our aquifer. As Governor, Philip will make sure that all of our wetlands, our springs, our parks and our aquifer are taken care of and protected. By prioritizing funding for Florida Forever and expanding the reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee, Philip will fight to stop the toxic algae blooms plaguing communities throughout our state.

Build Resiliency Statewide

Climate change and sea-level rise are issues that affect our entire state, over 70% of Floridians live in coastal counties. As the changing climate threatens our aquifer from saltwater intrusion, beach erosion, and stronger storms and flooding, Philip believes it’s time to invest in resiliency for all of Florida’s communities.

Public Education
Improving Education

As a product of Broward County’s public schools, Philip is a strong advocate for Florida’s traditional public education system. It’s time we pay our teachers fairly, reform high-stakes testing, improve our facilities, and take an innovative approach to building a system that works efficiently. Prioritizing public education is a direct investment in the next generation, creating a public school system that sets our kids up for success.

Invest, Invest, Invest

Philip believes it’s time to take our public school funding off the back-burner and make the much-needed investments in our public education system so that everyone can have the same opportunities to advance. Funding public education, paying teachers fairly, investment in our business of public education must be a top priority. It’s time to end the flow of taxpayer money to unaccountable, for-profit charters and private schools and adequately fund our public schools, our teachers, and our children’s future.

Innovation

As our country moves into the future, our education system must keep up. In order to adapt and ensure our children get a world-class education, we have to take a different and innovative approach. Florida must invest in more virtual school programs, apprenticeship and vocational programs, and make serious investments in a top-notch voluntary pre-kindergarten program to ensure our kids are being taught a curriculum that works best for them.

Educational Partnership

In Florida, we want to attract the most admired companies to our state, the Googles and General Electrics of the world. The companies that will drive the economy of the future. But in order to do that we must have an educated state which will provide them with a skilled and innovative workforce to move their innovations forward. Philip sees a future where our state builds partnerships with leading companies to supplement our investments in Florida’s public education system and ensure our schools have the resources necessary to help our students achieve.

Higher Education
Expanding Access

Florida should be taking a forward-thinking approach and incentivizing kids that have an interest in going to college or vocational training schools to do just that. Providing students with a scholarship if they pledge to work in our state after graduation is a common-sense idea that will allow more children greater opportunities while helping to boost our state economy.

More Options

Going to a four-year state university isn’t for everyone; one size does not fit all. Philip understands the importance of options for students when it comes to higher education. Apprenticeship programs and vocational training schools are avenues for students to develop valuable skills and land high-paying jobs. Community colleges are options that help keep education costs down while earning credits in foundational courses.

Innovation Zones

In order to compete in the 21st century economy, we must incentivize our students to innovate. With the proper investments, all of our colleges and universities can have innovation zones that serve as entrepreneurial hubs. In order to move our state forward and create the new startup capital, we must create an environment that encourages students to start companies, advance research, and begin projects that will develop the next great generation of businesses and ideas.

Healthcare
Expand Access to Affordable Healthcare

Floridians’ access to healthcare has been a political game under Rick Scott’s Administration. As Governor, Philip will direct the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration to work with the Federal Government and expand Medicaid and help almost 700,000 Floridians gain access to the care they badly need. Philip believes it is crucial we build a state where everyone has access to the care they need.

Mental Health Funding

Florida ranks 49th in mental health funding. Philip believes this is unacceptable and that we must do better. Mental health is just as important as physical health — many issues stem from a lack of access to mental healthcare.

We must empower our local governments to work with regional providers like schools and community health centers to provide the type of care that is needed in each neighborhood throughout the state. We must also ensure that our corrections system is providing mental healthcare services to those that need it — access to mental health services is an important factor in reducing recidivism.

A Levine administration will make this a top priority and take a forward-thinking approach to ensure all Floridians can access quality and affordable mental healthcare services.

Opioid Epidemic

Our state also faces an opioid crisis, as too many fall victim to fentanyl and other prescription painkillers — 15 Floridians die each day as a result of opioid overdose. Recent research has shown a clear correlation between access to medical marijuana and a decline in opioid addiction.

As governor, Philip will:

Direct the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration to work with the Federal Government and expand Medicaid and help almost 700,000 Floridians gain access to the care they badly need. Run Florida’s agencies effectively and ensure that the Florida Department of Health delivers the necessary medical marijuana licenses to help alleviate suffering and save lives by preventing opioid addiction. Work with the Attorney General to sue the big-pharmaceutical companies responsible for this epidemic, as these organizations knew that their pills were highly addictive and deadly. Taxpayers should not foot the bill for a problem the pharmaceutical companies created. Legalizing Marijuana

As Mayor of Miami Beach, Philip decriminalized marijuana because it was the right thing to do—ruining people’s lives is the wrong approach. With overcrowded prisons and an opioid epidemic ravaging our communities, he believes it’s time to take this one step further.

If elected Governor, Philip will carefully move to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. Through responsible reform, Florida can generate $600 million annually in new revenue.

Better Jobs
A New Economy

Philip is running for Governor to create a 21st century economy that works for all Floridians. If we want to attract the most admired companies in America, Philip believes we need to build an environment that attracts them, invest in Team Florida, and create a culture of excellence.

Raise the Minimum Wage

To create a state where we all rise together, Philip believes it’s time to raise the minimum wage in the state of Florida. It’s something he did as Mayor of Miami Beach, as the first city in the state to institute a minimum living wage. As Governor, Philip will fight to raise the minimum wage past $8.25 and let local communities decide what works best for them.

Create More Affordable Housing Options

All across our state, the cost of living varies. But in almost every metro area, housing prices are too high. From Tampa to Orlando, to Sarasota to Miami, low-income Floridians are using nearly half of their income on housing. The costs are too high and are keeping families from getting ahead and achieving economic security. Philip will make sure that the Sadowski Fund is used for its dedicated purpose and stop Republican leadership from sweeping it to fund their pet-projects.

Invest in Florida’s Families & Stop Taxpayer-Funded Handouts to Special Interests

With an $89 billion budget, it’s time we stop giving away taxpayer money to special interests and start investing in the people of Florida. By investing resources in public education, healthcare, and in protecting the environment, Philip knows we can create a state where businesses small and large can flourish and thrive. We’ll build a state where the most admired companies in our country won’t just want to move to Florida — they’ll start here.

Common-sense Gun Reform
Reducing Gun Violence

Philip Levine believes it’s time to take aggressive and decisive action to reduce gun violence in our communities and make neighborhoods safe. After the events at Pulse Nightclub and Parkland which took too many lives too soon, we must honor their memories with action.

As governor, Philip will:

Ban assault-style-rifles in the state of Florida. Institute universal background checks for all purchases of firearms. Reverse preemption and empower local governments to establish common-sense rules that work for their communities.

Criminal Justice Reform
Implement Criminal Justice Reforms

The state of Florida’s corrections system has much need for improvement; our state has almost 100,000 inmates and the highest voter disenfranchisement rate in the nation. As Governor, Philip will conduct an extensive, top-down and bottom-up review and investigation of the Department of Corrections. It’s time to audit the private prison scheme to identify fraud that is costing taxpayers money, review the vetting of visitors, so it treats families with respect and dignity, and review and decriminalize minor offenses, so we don’t clog our prison system with non-violent offenders who pose no real threat to the public safety.

Restoration of Rights

Philip firmly believes that we are a nation and a state of second chances. Great leaders do not work to keep their people down; they create environments where everyone has the opportunity to rise. In a state with the highest disenfranchisement rate in the country, where 1 in 5 black adults are deprived of the right to vote, Philip supports Amendment 4. He will do what is right and restore the voices of those who have made mistakes and served their time.

Government Accountability
Serving the People

Tallahassee has not been working for Floridians. Under Republican control, the Legislature has been run by an unaccountable majority, cutting deals behind closed doors and giving tax-breaks to special interests. Philip thinks it’s time to change that. As Governor, Philip will fight to make sure that the legislature is held accountable for its actions.

To make Tallahassee serve the people best, Philip proposes using the same standards local governments use and ensure any and all visitors speaking with elected leaders must be publicly available information.

Also, because the Governor and the Cabinet have a very real influence on legislation — to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, no statewide elected official should be able to fundraise during legislative session.

Immigration Reform
Diversity and the American Dream

We are a state and a nation of immigrants, and the American Dream is the ability to move and immigrate to the United States. As a long-time resident of South Florida, a multicultural melting pot in one of the most diverse states in the country, Philip knows that diversity is our strength and a competitive advantage.

As Governor, Philip fully supports a path to citizenship for those who are here and want to contribute to our society. He will stand strong against President Trump to defend the thousands of DREAMers who were brought to our country for a better life.

LGBT Rights
Tolerance & Inclusiveness

Philip has always been a fierce champion for LGBTQ rights. As Mayor of Miami Beach, he led the first same-sex weddings in his city after the historic ruling in 2015. Under his administration, his city won consecutive perfect scores from the Human Rights Campaign for inclusiveness and tolerance––the highest in the state of Florida.

Just as he did as Mayor, Philip will make sure that Florida is a state known for its tolerance and inclusiveness.

As Governor, Philip will fight to make the Florida Competitive Workforce Act a reality, to ensure that no one of any gender or sexual orientation faces discrimination on the job.

Women's Rights
Standing Up for True Equality

Right now, the state of Florida needs better leadership that will champion women’s rights and stand up for true equality, both in and out of the workplace. On his first day in office, Philip is committed to signing an executive order mandating Equal Pay for Equal Work, to ensure that everyone is paid fairly for their work.

After a year where politicians in Tallahassee made headlines for shameful and intolerable behavior with regards to sexual harassment, Philip’s administration will institute a zero-tolerance policy. This is a problem that affects women throughout our state; we must come together to make sure that no one is ever subjected to abusive behavior, in or outside of the workplace.

Philip is committed to standing up for a woman’s right to choose and will fight the legislature against any legislation that would infringe upon that right.

As in his previous public-sector and private-sector roles, Philip will make sure that his administration reflects the diversity of Florida.

Veterans and Military Families
They Deserve the Best

The son of a military veteran, Philip Levine appreciates the incredible contribution and sacrifice that our men and women in uniform and their families give to our country.

While the state of Florida has come a long way in how it cares for troops, veterans and military families, there is still much to be done.

Our men and women in uniform risk their lives for our country, and they deserve the best healthcare, quality of life, and career opportunities back home. Philip will work as Governor to make sure our 1.5 million veterans are cared for, and to provide affordable housing and support for our state’s many homeless veterans — the 2nd largest population in the United States.

Philip wants to ensure our retired military personnel are cared for and respected. A Levine administration will call for the establishment of a Retired Military Personnel Director to ensure that Florida’s population of retired military personnel can access healthcare services and other benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Philip will also ensure that the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs has enough Veterans Claims Examiners to handle caseloads and make sure our retired military members are prioritized.

Transportation and Infrastructure
Connecting Our Cities

As a long-time resident of South Florida, Philip is all-too-familiar with our state’s chronic issues of gridlock and congestion, a huge drag on our economy and a major source of pollution. This is especially a problem in South Florida and Central Florida, where the average low-income working family spends over 70% of their income on transportation and housing.

Philip wants to drive Florida into the 21st century economy and believes that to do that, we need to connect our cities with modern transportation methods. High-speed rail, Hyperloop, and other similar initiatives can be a driving force for new jobs and economic advancement for regions throughout Florida. But Philip also understands that we must take our local communities into account as we move forward.

In Miami Beach, Philip expanded the use of bike lanes and instituted a free trolley program to connect his community. By reducing gridlock and carbon emissions, we can build a truly inclusive economy, and Philip will get it done through innovative investment projects and public-private partnerships.

Philip will also appoint a Secretary of Transportation who will be focused on getting things done, and working with local governments to streamline processes and cut through red tape.

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