In the final push before Election Day, Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum is getting a boost from celebrities who have converged in Tallahassee to campaign for him.
On Monday evening, DJ Khaled tweeted a photo of himself and the rapper Fat Joe arriving in Florida’s capital, where he was scheduled to appear at a “Bring It Home Midnight Rally” for Gillum, headlined by Sean “Diddy” Combs. Other guests include Tiffany Haddish, Will Packer and Monica.
On Saturday, Combs appeared in a video expressing his support for Gillum, saying he agreed with the Democrat’s positions on criminal justice reform, legalizing recreational marijuana use, raising the minimum wage and health-care access.
“It’s not just because he’s black. It’s because he’s the best man for the job” Combs said. “He’s running a campaign for the people. I’ve spoken with him at length. I believe in him, his ideas, his focus, what he stands for.”
The star-studded rally, scheduled to last until the early hours of Election Day, will come a day after Gillum received the endorsement of pop megastar Rihanna, who urged Florida voters to “make history this election.” If elected, Gillum would be Florida’s first black governor.
Throughout his campaign, dozens of celebrities — including former NBA player Grant Hill, actress Gabrielle Union and the rapper Common — have helped boost Gillum’s candidacy, either through fundraisers, donations or supportive social media posts. Last week, former president Barack Obama stumped for Gillum and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) at a Miami rally.
Gillum’s opponent, Republican Ron DeSantis, has dismissed Gillum’s parade of celebrity support as a “distraction” from “liberal Hollywood elites,” according to the Tallahassee Democrat. But he has received his own boost from President Trump, who traveled to Pensacola Saturday to rally support for DeSantis.