As Rick Scott ends his final term as the sunshine state’s Governor and looks onward to possibly face Democratic Florida Senator Bill Nelson for his seat, Republicans and Democrats have been gearing up to become Florida’s next Governor. With Congressman Ron DeSantis and Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam already filing for the office on the Republican side, and with the Democratic pool consisting of entrepreneur Chris King, former congresswoman Gwen Graham, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and former Mayor of Miami Beach Philip Levine, the Florida Press Association and the Children’s Movement of Florida reported that gubernatorial primary debates will take place on August 1 and 2nd in the University of Miami ahead of the August 28 primaries.
In the announcement, there was no mention of the candidates that would be appearing. In addition, he debates will be televised, and they will be shown in all 10 of Florida’s major media markets.
After the Parkland shooting that has resulted in nationwide dialogue involving gun control and what measures should be taken in order to avoid future shootings from taking place, gun rights and gun control discussions are sure to take precedence in the debates. Former congresswoman Gwen Graham has already been attacked on her gun stance by Chris King, citing that “the next governor of Florida has to be transformational, and has to be transformational on the issue of gun safety. They have to have an appetite, an energy, a passion for this because this is a tough issue. This is going to be a hard change to make in the state of Florida.”
So, Floridians will be tuning in to see what each candidate will bring to the table.