Democratic Candidates For Governor To Face Off June 9 In Largo

LARGO, FL -- With just three months to go before voters head to the polls for the Democratic and Republican Primaries, Florida gubernatorial candidates are spending the summer stumping, schmoozing and swaying.

Democratic candidates vying to become Florida's next governor will be doing their fair share of all three persuasive tactics during the first of a series of summer debates. The four leading Democratic candidates for governor have accepted invitations to attend a debate Saturday, June 9, organized by Women's March Florida and Fired Up Pinellas. The debate will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Pinellas Park High School auditorium, 6305 118th Ave N, Largo.

Campaigning to fill the post currently held by Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for the U.S. Senate, are former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, Orlando businessman Chris King, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy could be added to the roster if he announces his candidacy within the coming week.

All of the tickets to see the debate live have been snatched up but the debate will be broadcast by most Florida television providers as well as online at Bay News 9 or Fox News 13.

Tampa Bay Times political editor Adam Smith and TV news anchors Tammie Fields of Orlando's Channel 13 and Holly Gregory of Bay News 9 will be the moderators.

Democratic gubernatorial debates are also scheduled for June 11 in Miramar and July 8 in Ft. Meyers.

On the Republican side, Fox News and the Republican Party of Florida are partnering for a June 28 debate in Kissimmee.

In addition, the Children’s Movement of Florida and the Florida Press Association announced they will hold televised Republican and Democratic primary debates for the 2018 governor’s race on Aug. 1 and 2 at the University of Miami.

The candidate filing deadline for the gubernatorial race is June 22. To date, 26 candidates have filed to run including 12 Republicans, six Democrats, three with no party affiliation, one Green Party candidate and two members of the Libertarian Party of Florida.

A Democratic candidate has not won a gubernatorial election in Florida since 1994 when Gov. Lawton Chiles was elected to a second term. However, political prognosticators say Florida's voter demographics may take a turn in favor of Democrats this election year due to Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017, prompting nearly 100,000 Puerto Ricans to relocate to Florida. Additionally, the Parkland school shootings could attract a new generation of liberal voters, although current statistics aren't showing a marked increase in voter registrations in Florida by those between the ages of 18 and 21.

As of April 30, there are 4,555,773 registered Republicans in Florida, 4,798,973 registered Democrats and 3,482,707 with no party affiliation, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

Image via Fired Up Pinellas