MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Democratic candidate for Florida governor Andrew Gillum was campaigning Thursday in South Florida, where he was joined by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson at his first event of the day.
Gillum wrapped up his speech Thursday morning at Florida International University, kicking off his Bring it Home tour in South Florida.
He was surrounded by students, faculty and supporters.
Nelson was also in attendance, making the last few campaign pushes ahead of Election Day.
The tour kicked off just a day after Gillum’s final debate against GOP opponent Ron DeSantis, which was a very bitter one at that.
The two candidates have very stark differences on several hot button issues, including health care and gun control.
Gillum, the current mayor of Tallahassee, reiterated his stance on guns at the rally Thursday and his intent to stand up to the most powerful interests, including the NRA -- a stance very different from his opponent.
Security, meanwhile, was out in full force and on top mind in light of the recent pipe bomb scares. The incidents were briefly mentioned at the FIU event, but the focus stayed on the campaign.
Local 10 News reporter Alex Finnie spoke with several students, and it's clear they are energized and galvanizing their peers to vote -- an energy Gillum himself fed off of during his speech.
"I've got to level with you, FIU. My hope, my prayer, my dedicated work over the next 12 days is gonna be for the fact that when I come back here, I want to be able to greet you as the governor of the great state of Florida," Gillum said.
Gillum later headed to Florida Memorial University -- a historical black college -- where he was joined by Congressman John Lewis, a living icon of the Civil Rights Movement.
"We have the opportunity to honor that by voting like our lives depend on it," Lewis said.
Gillum talked criminal justice, economic justice and the effects of the race that will outlast the next governor's term.
"Do you know that the next governor will have the ability to appoint three new Supreme Court justices to the state Supreme Court? Three," Gillum said.
He later put on a yarmulke for his late afternoon appearance at a synagogue in Plantation, where he was joined by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
There was serious security at the synagogue as the congresswoman is one of multiple would-be victims of the recent mail bombs investigation.
Wasserman Schultz opened up her remarks at the event by acknowledging the incidents, saying she will not be silenced or stopped by people who hate.