Death penalty in Florida gubernatorial race

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Gillum said on record he'd suspend death penalty in Florida if elected. Does this play any role in the race, given death penalty has long been one of Florida's politicians favorite fetishes?

Just a few historical examples:

1. Promise to bring back executions was one of Claude R. Kirk's main themes in 1966. Dude actually went to Raiford, shook hands with some death row inmates and said "if elected I may sign your death warrants".

2. After "Gregg", then-Attorney General Robert Shevin (also running for Governor) bragged he can have as many as 15 inmates executed per year (he hadn't, but not for the lack of trying.)

3. After struggling with getting anything done during his first months in office, Bob Graham essentially rebuilt his popularity by resuming executions after a break.

4. During his campaign Bob Martinez promised that "Florida's electric bills will go up". Martinez, just as his predecessor, signed over hundred death warrants, mostly for show, given likely stays that followed in most cases.

5. Jeb Bush unsuccessfully tried to make Lawton Chiles look weak on death penalty, which backfired in the light of the latter's record.

6. During the 90s, Florida's politicians were nearly unanimous in defending the electric chair as state's method of executions. Attorney General Bob Butterworth went as far as to say, after a botched electrocution, that "People who wish to commit murder, they better not do it in the state of Florida because we may have a problem with our electric chair." It wasn't until the federal courts looked ready to intervene Florida made a change.

7. While a state representative, Charlie Crist went as far as to attend one electrocution (not uncommon for Florida's legislators), and spent substantial part of his time as Attorney General to further his "tough on crime" image.

8. Rick Scott's been working like crazy to speed up executions, with some effect.


It's kind of hard to imagine this went silent or Florida voters' overwhelming support for executions reversed so rapidly.

[Lourdes]

Good. The death penalty is known to be used in racist ways in the US and should be done away with immediately.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

That’s the first good idea Gillum has had.

[Dereich]

Yet another reason to vote DeSantis.

[Ebsy]

Only Andrew Gillum respects the sanctity of human life.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Nobody responded to my question if the death penalty issue has been mentioned during the campaign.

[Cold War Liberal]

Only Andrew Gillum respects the sanctity of human life.

[Dereich]

Nobody responded to my question if the death penalty issue has been mentioned during the campaign.

This is the first time in this race I've heard it mentioned.