Adam Putnam
Republican
As a fifth-generation Floridian from Bartow, Florida Putnam spent his life raising cattle and growing citrus. Putnam, along with wife Melissa, have built a family in Florida and taught their kids the values of hard work, self-reliance and perseverance.
Putnam has pledged to protect religious freedom and work with faith-based communities to address societal challenges. He has promised to help homeschool families navigate Florida's education system, protect gun rights and support veterans. He believes in defending constitutional freedoms, removing judicial activism from court benches, various faith-based and community-based initiatives and more. Putnam is pro-life and boasts a 100 percent National Right to Life lifetime rating.
Putnam, a recipient of the Defender of Faith and Freedom award from the Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition, plans on combating the opioid crisis; standing by those suffering from addiction and substance abuse disorders while providing support and treatment for those seeking sobriety; caring for the 41,000 children in Florida's child welfare system; sharing a message of redemption for inmates through prison ministries; feeding the hungry and more.
For more information, visit https://adamputnam.com/.
Alex ‘Lundy’ Lundmark
Democrat
Submitted by the candidate
Lundy Lundmark is a Rotarian, Eagle Scout, realtor, pilot and first-generation immigrant He is running because he envisions a different future for Florida.
Lundmark was born in Russia, adopted by a loving family at age 10. He grew up in Vero Beach and studied at Indian River State College and the University of Central Florida. He earned a degree in business financing, with an emphasis in real estate. He retired at the age of 31. Before committing to the gubernatorial race, he spent as much time as possible flying to accumulate hours and skills to work for a commercial airline.
Lundmark decided to run because he saw the first three debates and was not satisfied with the vision of Florida’s future from the other candidates. He ran to give Floridians a different and better option.
Lundmark envisions a future where students are challenged, inspired and enriched on a daily basis; all Floridians look up to law enforcement, at all ages; Florida's compassion shines as bright as the sun; the state never pursues the death penalty, with the victim's family even having the ability to reduce or even eliminate the perpetrator's prison sentence, saving significant taxpayer's dollars; and court orders are required to pull over vehicles to keep residents safe and protected.
For more information, visit www.GovLundy.com.
Andrew Gillum
Democrat
From www.andrewgillum.com
Andrew Gillum was born in Miami where his mother drove a school bus and his father was a construction worker. After being the first in his family to graduate from college, the Miami native went on to become the youngest person in history to be elected to the Tallahassee City Commission. He later became mayor and contributed 15 years in public service.
As mayor, Gillum developed the local economy, fought the gun lobby in court to promote reform and defended the rights of immigrants.
He is running for governor to rebuild the state's economy, revitalize public education, protect and expand healthcare access and address the climate change crisis with a clean energy economy. He also wants to strengthen public schools and end the culture of high-stakes testing.
Gillum has promised to fight against special interests that are standing in the way of acting against climate change and ensuring Florida is a welcome and safe place for everyone.
Gillum believes in criminal justice reform; gun regulations such as a ban on assault weapons, bump stocks and large capacity magazines; LGBT equality; women's rights, the abolishment of ICE in its current form and more.
Furthermore, Gillum is a strong supporter of Puerto Rico, and he plans to use his platform as governor to advocate for new federal legislation and assistance.
For more information, visit www.andrewgillum.com.
Bob White
Republican
From www.bobforflorida.com
Bob White is a Polk County native running a campaign based on changing the environment, ending government corruption and promoting conservative values. The chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida and Central East Florida and the founder and former chairman of the Liberty Catalyst Fund, White is a fourth-generation Floridian.
White has made a commitment to defending the integrity of Florida's elections and promoting meaningful campaign finance reform. He is passionate about curbing the growing influence of special interest money in the political and legislative process, along with reducing regulations and creating jobs.
Regarding education, White believes in eliminating Common Core and reducing the burdens associated with excessive standardized testing. White is a supporter of the Second Amendment. He has promised to work with the Florida legislature for the revocation of government-mandated “Gun Free Zones” and support open carry by concealed carry weapons licensees.
The candidate does not support sanctuary cities. When it comes to abortion, White believes that life begins at conception and he has vowed to reduce the number of abortions performed in Florida.
For more information, visit www.bobforflorida.com.
Bruce Nathan
Republican
From https://brucenathan2018.com/
Bruce Nathan has been a physical therapist for over 20 years. He moved to Florida in 2000 to work for the Florida Elks Children's Therapy Services.
Nathan joined the United States Army Reserves directly after the 9/11 attacks. At the time, Nathan was a member of the Democratic Party. However, he eventually switched to the Republican Party.
Nathan believes that elected officials should not live in an ivory tower. As governor, he plans to open satellite offices to increase his ability to meet with all who want to share their thoughts and ideas on the issues facing Florida, and the U.S. as a whole.
If elected, the candidate also wants to fight human trafficking, the opioid epidemic and government corruption; assist and support veterans; secure Florida's Medicaid system from potential hacks; support hemp farming; and work directly with Florida residents to tackle state issues.
For more information on Nathan, visit www.brucenathan2018.com.
Chris King
Democrat
From www.chriskingforflorida.com
Born in Orlando, Chris King is a third-generation Central Floridian. He graduated from Harvard University and earned his law degree from the University of Florida. Over a dozen years ago, with the idea that businesses had a responsibility "to do well and do good," King and his brother started Elevation, a company that provides seniors across the state and Southeast affordable housing options.
With his family, King started several charitable efforts to serve their community, including the Elevation Scholars program, which provides college scholarship opportunities to low-income students in Orange County. The Elevation Global Initiative funds family farming and environmental efforts in Haiti, entrepreneurship training in East Africa and prisoner rehabilitation in U.S. prisons. He also helped launch the Elevation Academy, a school in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo that serves 700 low-income students.
King met his wife Kristen when he was 15 years old. They are raising their three children in Orlando.
Don Baldauf
Republican
From https://www.itsarepublic.com/
Don Baldauf is determined to get "our republic back to the original founding principles and restore tranquility to our nation.” Baldauf believes government has grown beyond its useful size and scope, and he has promised that his first act as governor will be to fully uphold his oath of office and strictly conform to the Constitution of the United States.
Baldauf would like to eliminate all direct Federal Income tax for all Floridians in both personal and business categories. He strongly opposes sanctuary cities and believes it is in the governor's power to prosecute willful violators of immigration law.
Baldauf also believes that healthcare and health insurance coverage are different issues that need to be addressed separately. Regarding healthcare, Baldauf believes government has the responsibility to remove roadblocks and obstacles to achieve the standard of services people can afford or wish to purchase by opening the market to promote competition.
When it comes to the Second Amendment, Baldauf believes every person has a natural born right to protect and defend themselves against all threats. He does not believe the government has the right to limit the Second Amendment or enforce regulations that would limit anyone's ability to protect themselves with a firearm.
For more information, visit https://www.itsarepublic.com/.
Gwen Graham
Democrat
From www.gwengraham.com
In 2014, Gwen Graham challenged a Tea Party congressman in Florida's 2nd Congressional District. She ran on a promise to fight for the middle class and campaigned in every corner of the district. Graham won her race and become one of just two Democrats in the nation to defeat an incumbent Republican.
On the campaign and throughout her time in Congress, Graham has followed in the footsteps of her father — Gov. Bob Graham — by participating in "Graham Workdays," where she spends an entire shift working alongside fellow Floridians. Her jobs have included work on farms, teaching in public schools and training with the United States Air Force in a T-38 jet.
Graham grew up enjoying Florida’s natural treasures. As a result, she is committed to protecting Florida's air and waters. Graham also believes in criminal justice reform, healthcare as a human right, making Florida a solar state, LGBT equality, women's rights, gun safety, comprehensive immigration reform and a pathway to citizenship, ethics and government transparency, women’s rights and more.
For more information, visit www.gwengraham.com.
Jeff Greene
Democrat
From www.jeffgreeneforflorida.com
Jeff Greene is committed to fighting for Florida's families and putting everyday Floridians first. Greene doesn't want families to work three jobs to put food on the table. His goal is to facilitate a school system that guarantees students an education preparing them for high-paying jobs, that also ensures their teachers fair compensation.
Greene believes in a woman's right to choose, helping citizens gain access to high-quality, low-cost healthcare, protecting communities from gun violence through common sense gun reforms, standing up to President Donald Trump on immigration, LGBT equality, protecting the environment, providing affordable housing, criminal justice reform, prioritizing public education and raising Florida's minimum wage to $15 per hour.
As a teenager, Greene's family lost everything, and he saw his parents go from owning a small business to working blue-collar jobs to get by. Following the death of his father at age 51, he found nothing but stacks of bills on his desk. A strong public-school education, government-subsidized student loans and work-study programs helped him rebuild. Greene eventually graduated from college, received his MBA and achieved what he calls “the American Dream.”
For more information, visit www.jeffgreeneforflorida.com.
John Joseph Mercadante
Republican
From http://www.patriotforthestate.com/
Born and raised in a suburb of Boston, John Joseph Mercadante is an active member of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County, District 40, as well as a lead in the Grass Root's movement team. Mercadante has received the Order of Merit for volunteering in a congressional election for the former mayor of Cutler Bay. Additionally, Mercadante is a member of the Republican National Committee's Presidential Advisory Board, a member of Judicial Watch and a charter member of the Republican National Committee. He is a frequent guest of the Miami Young Republicans and has been involved in Project Majority Red, led by the Republican Party of Florida.
Mercadante believes in enhancing the state's transportation by pushing for light rail vehicles, an improved bus system and more. The candidate would like to protect blue-collar workers from workers compensation abuse, resolve nursing home abuse and improve the economy by treating the state of Florida like a business. Furthermore, Mercadante is determined to fight corruption and represent Florida while upholding his Republican oath.
For more information on Mercadante visit www.patriotforthestate.com.
John Wetherbee
Democrat
From www.johnwetherbee.com
John Wetherbee has lived in Florida for 17 years, with time spent in Miami, Gainesville and now the Treasure Coast. By living in various regions of the state, Wetherbee has been able to connect with a wide number of residents and learn more about their issues with the quality of water in their area.
After graduating from the University of Florida, Wetherbee went to work as a mechanical engineer for Dupont and then Westinghouse, both contracted by the Department of Energy. He now owns and manages a small business in the Treasure Coast area, employing local workers as they provide for their families.
Throughout his career, Wetherbee has learned the fundamentals of how large and small businesses function, even in the government sector. He has seen the impact of government decisions first-hand as they came down from Washington and is now seeking to apply his knowledge and experience toward restoring Florida’s water systems and saving its wildlife.
For more information, visit www.johnwetherbee.com.
Philip Levine
Democrat
Submitted by the candidate
Philip Levine is the former two-term mayor of Miami Beach, entrepreneur and philanthropist. A native of South Florida since the age of 10, Levine has spent most of his career in the private sector as an entrepreneur, building successful businesses in his community.
As mayor, Levine spearheaded an ambitious series of solutions to combat sea level rise — installing pumps and raising roads — which are now a model for cities around the world. He helped reform a broken police department, developed new public transportation options, helped to pass the first living minimum wage in the state of Florida in Miami Beach and oversaw a city that was one of only a handful in the country to win consecutive perfect scores for LGBTQ+ inclusiveness during his tenure.
Levine is now running for governor this year, hoping to bring a progressive vision and the same get-it-done attitude to Tallahassee.
For more information, visit https://philiplevine2018.com/.
Ron DeSantis
Republican
From https://rondesantis.com/
Currently the U.S. Representative for Florida’s Sixth District, Ron DeSantis has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, Fox News' Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham and radio host Mark Levin for his gubernatorial bid.
While in Congress, DeSantis has led efforts to impose term limits cut taxes, repeal ObamaCare, relocate America's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, assist veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, prevent American tax dollars from being sent to Iran, combat radical Islamic terrorism, stop illegal immigration and defund sanctuary cities.
A native Floridian with blue-collar roots, DeSantis worked his way through Yale University, where he graduated with honors and was the captain of the varsity baseball team. He also graduated with honors from Harvard Law School. While at Harvard, DeSantis earned a commission in the U.S. Navy as a JAG officer. During his active-duty service, he supported operations at the terrorist detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and deployed to Iraq as an adviser to a U.S. Navy SEAL commander in support of the SEAL mission in Fallujah, Ramadi, and the rest of Al Anbar province. His military decorations include the Bronze Star medal for meritorious service and the Iraq Campaign Medal. He has also served as a federal and military prosecutor.
DeSantis is married to his wife, Casey, an Emmy Award-winning television host. They have a daughter, Madison, and son, Mason.
For more information, visit https://rondesantis.com/.
