After a hiatus from criticizing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis via her Twitter account, former gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham has resumed her personal attacks.
Graham, who currently serves as assistant secretary of education in the Biden administration, called DeSantis a “cowardly bully” in a recent tweet aimed at the popular Florida governor.
On July 16, Graham tweeted, “For those of you who think Trump is worse than DeSantis, you are wrong. And for those who think DeSantis could take on Trump, also wrong. I know Ron. He is a cowardly, bully. He will turn and run when he can’t use his office as a stage to make himself look fake big. He is tiny.”
In a subsequent tweet, Graham added, “I’ve been thinking about my initial tweet. Obviously, I feel very strongly. What has happened in Florida is heartbreaking. When I first met Ron, I knew something was really off. A key human component was missing. When bad people get elected, bad things happen.”
Graham represented Tallahassee and other parts of North Florida in the U.S. House from 2015 to 2017 and ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018 – she lost to Andrew Gillum in the Democratic primary. After her loss, it was not long until she began routinely criticizing Governor DeSantis, who beat Gillum in a close general election race.
And people noticed.
On Sept. 26, 2019, Graham tweeted, “Do not believe the @Gov.RONDESANTIS bipartisan spin. He is a mini@realDonald Trump. To the Floridians (Rs, Ds, Is) who have said, ‘He isn’t as bad as I thought he would be.’ I say, ‘No, he is worse.’ Pay attention, Florida. Actions speak louder than words.”
At the time, Graham was a member of the nonpartisan organization Rebuild 85o. The group was launched on November 1, 2018, just three weeks after Hurricane Michael made landfall, to keep North Florida’s recovery front and center and to marshal ongoing support.
After Graham started criticizing DeSantis on Twitter, Ron Sachs, a longtime friend who helped form the organization, had a discussion with Graham about partisan tweets while being part of the leadership of a nonpartisan organization.
It did not work. The attacks continued and the group asked her to resign.
“Gwen apparently felt comfortable about doing it again,” said Sachs. “No one is trying to mute Gwen Graham or prevent her from having her point of view, but you can’t be co-chair of an organization that is not political and be spewing those kinds of political attacks. Her tweets a few days ago amounted to a spitball in the face of the governor. And we can’t have that.”
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Steve Stewart is a senior contributor at The Florida Capital Star.
One person mentioned Jackie Pons I can vouch for him I went to NFCS with him
Hey Gwen! Bitter much? You're like AOC critics you just want to date him.
Gwen, like her father, has the integrity to speak her mind and not bend to the political pressure of populism. Embarrassing to read the responses to this article; but not surprising. Oh Florida man…
I wonder what her daddy has to say about it? We expect better from Bob Graham's lil girl!
I'm sure this being pushed by the Biden admin and the Democratic party.
Now that everyone is experiencing the pain of a Democrat run U.S. Government, why would anyone vote Democrat again? Is the BLM, Green New Deal, Catch and Release Immigration, and the Homosexual Agenda worth this surge in inflation?
If you can honestly reflect on our current poor economy you should conclude Democrats are terrible, if not the worst, choice to run any government. And include in all the pain Democrats have not only lost their way with God, now they are trying to push the Church to embrace gay marriage and homosexuality. For example Georgia's pro-choice Senator/Pastor Warnock.
Graham rode her Father's name as far as it would take her. If she had any talent she would be in elected office.
Democrats are the party of the immoral and we simply cannot financially afford their agenda.
Gwendolin Graham is a raging alcoholic with a shoplifting addiction. She beats her dog too. So, I've been told...
Ron Sachs has become pretty good at being a Republican! Welcome home Ron
I think GG's been hitting the wine a little too hard - some of my most epic stupid online posting has come from a drunken 8 to 10 day weekend of boozing it up too.
Dry out GG go to the Betty Ford Clinic, a swanky hospital, or whereever you folks go.
@Edward
Your comment says it all. Does anyone really care about GG or her opinions? Totally irrelevant political person.
Remember: Gwen help write the book of lies that Rocky used to go after Pons. She arranged for Rocky to meet with her Dad to get the FBI to investigate Leon County Schools. This is digging up bones but a trail is there to verify this fact. Gwen needs to stay in Washington. Her and Biden deserve each other.
She LOST to Andrew Gillum. SHE LOST to Andrew Gillum. What does that say?
Your dad was okay Gwen, but YOU LOST TO ANDREW GILLUM. You have no credibility. Say hello to Rocky Hanna for all of us.
Who?
Yawn...GG has been irrelevant long before Gillum defeated her for the Dem. nomination for Florida Govorner.
DeSantis is correct to have so far not responded to the irrelevant GG's childish irrelevant Tweets.
@David T Hawkins
@,Hope
Well articulated - Kudos
Thump up, Thump up
Gwen, if "bad things" are happening in Florida, then why is Florida's population and economy booming right now? Why does the state have record tax revenues? If DeSantis is really as bad as Gwen Graham says he is, why aren't people fleeing to New York or California?
Why is it that the Political Democrats don't like anything GOOD? They always cherry pick something someone said then manipulate and twist it all up to suit their evil agenda and say that THAT Person said it. When you have to sling Mud, especially Manufactured Mud, you only prove to everyone that you are Worthless.
Only thing to say here is Ron Sachs is correct. Gwen Graham will fade away after 2024 and will never be able to resurrect any political career. Apparently she did not get the memo that Governor DeSantis is the Best Governor in America!