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Philip Levine
Philip Levine (Democratic Party) was the Mayor of Miami Beach.
Levine (Democratic Party) ran for election for Governor of Florida. He lost in the Democratic primary on August 28, 2018.
Levine served as mayor of Miami Beach, Florida, from 2013 to 2017.
Biography
Levine's professional experience includes working as the CEO of Onboard Media. After selling Onboard Media in 2000, Levine created Royal Media Partners.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Governor of Florida
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Florida on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ron DeSantis (R) | 49.6 | 4,076,186 |
 | Andrew Gillum (D) | 49.2 | 4,043,723 | |
 | Darcy Richardson (Reform Party) | 0.6 | 47,140 | |
 | Kyle Gibson (No Party Affiliation) | 0.3 | 24,310 | |
| Ryan Foley (No Party Affiliation) | 0.2 | 14,630 | ||
 | Bruce Stanley (No Party Affiliation)  | 0.2 | 14,505 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 66 | ||
| Total votes: 8,220,560 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Raphael Herman (No Party Affiliation)
- Randy Wiseman (L)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Florida
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Florida on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Andrew Gillum | 34.4 | 522,164 |
 | Gwen Graham | 31.3 | 474,875 | |
 | Philip Levine | 20.3 | 308,801 | |
 | Jeff Greene | 10.1 | 152,955 | |
 | Christopher King | 2.5 | 37,616 | |
| John Wetherbee | 0.9 | 14,426 | ||
 | Alex Lundmark | 0.6 | 8,655 | |
| Total votes: 1,519,492 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Florida
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Florida on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ron DeSantis | 56.5 | 916,298 |
 | Adam Putnam | 36.5 | 592,518 | |
 | Bob White | 2.0 | 32,710 | |
| Timothy Devine | 1.3 | 21,380 | ||
| Bob Langford | 1.2 | 19,842 | ||
 | Bruce Nathan | 0.9 | 14,556 | |
| Don Baldauf | 0.8 | 13,173 | ||
 | John Joseph Mercadante | 0.7 | 11,647 | |
| Total votes: 1,622,124 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Angel Rivera (R)
Campaign themes
2018
Levine's campaign website stated the following:
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Florida's Environment Philip is running for Governor and is ready to tackle climate change and sea level rise on the first day in office, the same way he did as Mayor of Miami Beach. As Mayor of Miami Beach, Philip worked with community stakeholders on an unprecedented solution to keep his city from going underwater by investing in seawater pumps, raising roads, improving building codes, and installing seawalls. It worked, and Miami Beach has become a model for cities around the world confronting climate change. Our state must be forward-thinking and build sustainable communities for our future. Local governments can’t do it all alone – we all need a partner in Tallahassee. Water Quality Florida is a growing state in both new residents and increased tourism, but Florida’s economy is built on a clean and ample supply of water. Our water is the lifeblood of our state and when we jeopardize that, we risk the health and safety of all Floridians and of our entire economy. Philip will fight to protect our environment by protecting our aquifer. Stop Offshore Drilling & Invest in Renewable Energy Sources It’s a clear fact: Floridians do not want offshore drilling. And not only is it wrong; it’s yesterday’s news. Fossil fuels are the old way and we must be ready to adapt so we can succeed in the future. Philip believes our energy future lies in renewable energy and that there is a reason we are called the “Sunshine State.” As Governor, he will encourage the growth of sustainability by investing heavily in solar and other sources of renewable energy. Philip will also make sure we hold polluters accountable, whether by looking into possible climate liability litigation against fossil-fuel polluters or by standing up to the Trump Administration’s pushes to implement oil-drilling off of Florida’s shores. Protect our Everglades and National Parks The Everglades is vitally important, not only as a natural treasure of the world, but also for the future of our state. If we do not protect the Everglades, we endanger not only the ecosystem and the wildlife there, but also our aquifer. As Governor, Philip will make sure that all of our wetlands, our springs, our parks and our aquifer are taken care of and protected. By prioritizing funding for Florida Forever and expanding the reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee, Philip will fight to stop the toxic algae blooms plaguing communities throughout our state. Build Resiliency Statewide Climate change and sea-level rise are issues that affect our entire state, over 70% of Floridians live in coastal counties. As the changing climate threatens our aquifer from saltwater intrusion, beach erosion, and stronger storms and flooding, Philip believes it’s time to invest in resiliency for all of Florida’s communities. Public Education As a product of Broward County’s public schools, Philip is a strong advocate for Florida’s traditional public education system. It’s time we pay our teachers fairly, reform high-stakes testing, improve our facilities, and take an innovative approach to building a system that works efficiently. Prioritizing public education is a direct investment in the next generation, creating a public school system that sets our kids up for success. Invest, Invest, Invest Philip believes it’s time to take our public school funding off the back-burner and make the much-needed investments in our public education system so that everyone can have the same opportunities to advance. Funding public education, paying teachers fairly, investment in our business of public education must be a top priority. It’s time to end the flow of taxpayer money to unaccountable, for-profit charters and private schools and adequately fund our public schools, our teachers, and our children’s future. Innovation As our country moves into the future, our education system must keep up. In order to adapt and ensure our children get a world-class education, we have to take a different and innovative approach. Florida must invest in more virtual school programs, apprenticeship and vocational programs, and make serious investments in a top-notch voluntary pre-kindergarten program to ensure our kids are being taught a curriculum that works best for them. Educational Partnership In Florida, we want to attract the most admired companies to our state, the Googles and General Electrics of the world. The companies that will drive the economy of the future. But in order to do that we must have an educated state which will provide them with a skilled and innovative workforce to move their innovations forward. Philip sees a future where our state builds partnerships with leading companies to supplement our investments in Florida’s public education system and ensure our schools have the resources necessary to help our students achieve. Higher Education Florida should be taking a forward-thinking approach and incentivizing kids that have an interest in going to college or vocational training schools to do just that. Providing students with a scholarship if they pledge to work in our state after graduation is a common-sense idea that will allow more children greater opportunities while helping to boost our state economy. More Options Going to a four-year state university isn’t for everyone; one size does not fit all. Philip understands the importance of options for students when it comes to higher education. Apprenticeship programs and vocational training schools are avenues for students to develop valuable skills and land high-paying jobs. Community colleges are options that help keep education costs down while earning credits in foundational courses. Innovation Zones In order to compete in the 21st century economy, we must incentivize our students to innovate. With the proper investments, all of our colleges and universities can have innovation zones that serve as entrepreneurial hubs. In order to move our state forward and create the new startup capital, we must create an environment that encourages students to start companies, advance research, and begin projects that will develop the next great generation of businesses and ideas. Healthcare Floridians’ access to healthcare has been a political game under Rick Scott’s Administration. As Governor, Philip will direct the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration to work with the Federal Government and expand Medicaid and help almost 700,000 Floridians gain access to the care they badly need. Philip believes it is crucial we build a state where everyone has access to the care they need. Mental Health Funding Florida ranks 49th in mental health funding. Philip believes this is unacceptable and that we must do better. Mental health is just as important as physical health — many issues stem from a lack of access to mental healthcare. We must empower our local governments to work with regional providers like schools and community health centers to provide the type of care that is needed in each neighborhood throughout the state. We must also ensure that our corrections system is providing mental healthcare services to those that need it — access to mental health services is an important factor in reducing recidivism. A Levine administration will make this a top priority and take a forward-thinking approach to ensure all Floridians can access quality and affordable mental healthcare services. Opioid Epidemic Our state also faces an opioid crisis, as too many fall victim to fentanyl and other prescription painkillers — 15 Floridians die each day as a result of opioid overdose. Recent research has shown a clear correlation between access to medical marijuana and a decline in opioid addiction. As governor, Philip will: Direct the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration to work with the Federal Government and expand Medicaid and help almost 700,000 Floridians gain access to the care they badly need. Run Florida’s agencies effectively and ensure that the Florida Department of Health delivers the necessary medical marijuana licenses to help alleviate suffering and save lives by preventing opioid addiction. Work with the Attorney General to sue the big-pharmaceutical companies responsible for this epidemic, as these organizations knew that their pills were highly addictive and deadly. Taxpayers should not foot the bill for a problem the pharmaceutical companies created. Legalizing Marijuana As Mayor of Miami Beach, Philip decriminalized marijuana because it was the right thing to do—ruining people’s lives is the wrong approach. With overcrowded prisons and an opioid epidemic ravaging our communities, he believes it’s time to take this one step further. If elected Governor, Philip will carefully move to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. Through responsible reform, Florida can generate $600 million annually in new revenue. Better Jobs Philip is running for Governor to create a 21st century economy that works for all Floridians. If we want to attract the most admired companies in America, Philip believes we need to build an environment that attracts them, invest in Team Florida, and create a culture of excellence. Raise the Minimum Wage To create a state where we all rise together, Philip believes it’s time to raise the minimum wage in the state of Florida. It’s something he did as Mayor of Miami Beach, as the first city in the state to institute a minimum living wage. As Governor, Philip will fight to raise the minimum wage past $8.25 and let local communities decide what works best for them. Create More Affordable Housing Options All across our state, the cost of living varies. But in almost every metro area, housing prices are too high. From Tampa to Orlando, to Sarasota to Miami, low-income Floridians are using nearly half of their income on housing. The costs are too high and are keeping families from getting ahead and achieving economic security. Philip will make sure that the Sadowski Fund is used for its dedicated purpose and stop Republican leadership from sweeping it to fund their pet-projects. Invest in Florida’s Families & Stop Taxpayer-Funded Handouts to Special Interests With an $89 billion budget, it’s time we stop giving away taxpayer money to special interests and start investing in the people of Florida. By investing resources in public education, healthcare, and in protecting the environment, Philip knows we can create a state where businesses small and large can flourish and thrive. We’ll build a state where the most admired companies in our country won’t just want to move to Florida — they’ll start here. Common-sense Gun Reform Philip Levine believes it’s time to take aggressive and decisive action to reduce gun violence in our communities and make neighborhoods safe. After the events at Pulse Nightclub and Parkland which took too many lives too soon, we must honor their memories with action. As governor, Philip will: Ban assault-style-rifles in the state of Florida. Institute universal background checks for all purchases of firearms. Reverse preemption and empower local governments to establish common-sense rules that work for their communities. Criminal Justice Reform The state of Florida’s corrections system has much need for improvement; our state has almost 100,000 inmates and the highest voter disenfranchisement rate in the nation. As Governor, Philip will conduct an extensive, top-down and bottom-up review and investigation of the Department of Corrections. It’s time to audit the private prison scheme to identify fraud that is costing taxpayers money, review the vetting of visitors, so it treats families with respect and dignity, and review and decriminalize minor offenses, so we don’t clog our prison system with non-violent offenders who pose no real threat to the public safety. Restoration of Rights Philip firmly believes that we are a nation and a state of second chances. Great leaders do not work to keep their people down; they create environments where everyone has the opportunity to rise. In a state with the highest disenfranchisement rate in the country, where 1 in 5 black adults are deprived of the right to vote, Philip supports Amendment 4. He will do what is right and restore the voices of those who have made mistakes and served their time. Government Accountability Tallahassee has not been working for Floridians. Under Republican control, the Legislature has been run by an unaccountable majority, cutting deals behind closed doors and giving tax-breaks to special interests. Philip thinks it’s time to change that. As Governor, Philip will fight to make sure that the legislature is held accountable for its actions. To make Tallahassee serve the people best, Philip proposes using the same standards local governments use and ensure any and all visitors speaking with elected leaders must be publicly available information. Also, because the Governor and the Cabinet have a very real influence on legislation — to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, no statewide elected official should be able to fundraise during legislative session. Immigration Reform We are a state and a nation of immigrants, and the American Dream is the ability to move and immigrate to the United States. As a long-time resident of South Florida, a multicultural melting pot in one of the most diverse states in the country, Philip knows that diversity is our strength and a competitive advantage. As Governor, Philip fully supports a path to citizenship for those who are here and want to contribute to our society. He will stand strong against President Trump to defend the thousands of DREAMers who were brought to our country for a better life. LGBT Rights Philip has always been a fierce champion for LGBTQ rights. As Mayor of Miami Beach, he led the first same-sex weddings in his city after the historic ruling in 2015. Under his administration, his city won consecutive perfect scores from the Human Rights Campaign for inclusiveness and tolerance––the highest in the state of Florida. Just as he did as Mayor, Philip will make sure that Florida is a state known for its tolerance and inclusiveness. As Governor, Philip will fight to make the Florida Competitive Workforce Act a reality, to ensure that no one of any gender or sexual orientation faces discrimination on the job. Women's Rights Right now, the state of Florida needs better leadership that will champion women’s rights and stand up for true equality, both in and out of the workplace. On his first day in office, Philip is committed to signing an executive order mandating Equal Pay for Equal Work, to ensure that everyone is paid fairly for their work. After a year where politicians in Tallahassee made headlines for shameful and intolerable behavior with regards to sexual harassment, Philip’s administration will institute a zero-tolerance policy. This is a problem that affects women throughout our state; we must come together to make sure that no one is ever subjected to abusive behavior, in or outside of the workplace. Philip is committed to standing up for a woman’s right to choose and will fight the legislature against any legislation that would infringe upon that right. As in his previous public-sector and private-sector roles, Philip will make sure that his administration reflects the diversity of Florida. Veterans and Military Families The son of a military veteran, Philip Levine appreciates the incredible contribution and sacrifice that our men and women in uniform and their families give to our country. While the state of Florida has come a long way in how it cares for troops, veterans and military families, there is still much to be done. Our men and women in uniform risk their lives for our country, and they deserve the best healthcare, quality of life, and career opportunities back home. Philip will work as Governor to make sure our 1.5 million veterans are cared for, and to provide affordable housing and support for our state’s many homeless veterans — the 2nd largest population in the United States. Philip wants to ensure our retired military personnel are cared for and respected. A Levine administration will call for the establishment of a Retired Military Personnel Director to ensure that Florida’s population of retired military personnel can access healthcare services and other benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Philip will also ensure that the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs has enough Veterans Claims Examiners to handle caseloads and make sure our retired military members are prioritized. Transportation and Infrastructure As a long-time resident of South Florida, Philip is all-too-familiar with our state’s chronic issues of gridlock and congestion, a huge drag on our economy and a major source of pollution. This is especially a problem in South Florida and Central Florida, where the average low-income working family spends over 70% of their income on transportation and housing. Philip wants to drive Florida into the 21st century economy and believes that to do that, we need to connect our cities with modern transportation methods. High-speed rail, Hyperloop, and other similar initiatives can be a driving force for new jobs and economic advancement for regions throughout Florida. But Philip also understands that we must take our local communities into account as we move forward. In Miami Beach, Philip expanded the use of bike lanes and instituted a free trolley program to connect his community. By reducing gridlock and carbon emissions, we can build a truly inclusive economy, and Philip will get it done through innovative investment projects and public-private partnerships. Philip will also appoint a Secretary of Transportation who will be focused on getting things done, and working with local governments to streamline processes and cut through red tape. |
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| —Philip Levine’s campaign website (2018)[3] | ||
See also
| Florida | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Office of the Governor of Florida
- Official campaign website
- Philip Levine on Facebook
- Philip Levine on Twitter
- Philip Levine on Instagram
Footnotes
- ↑ Miami Herald, "Miami Beach’s new mayor faces transition from private CEO to public servant," November 23, 2013
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Philip Levine for Governor, “Issues,” accessed August 6, 2018
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