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Gavin Brown (Florida)

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Gavin Brown
Image of Gavin Brown

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

August 23, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Florida State University, 2006

Personal
Birthplace
Orlando, Fla.
Religion
Spiritual
Profession
Development/Marketing/Strategy consultant
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Gavin Brown (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Florida's 15th Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on August 23, 2022.

Brown completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Gavin Brown was born in Orlando, Florida. He earned a bachelor's degree from Florida State University in 2006. Brown's career experience includes working as a development, marketing, and strategy consultant. He has also served as a not-for-profit arts director and a U.S. history honors teacher. He has been affiliated with the ASPCA, DNC, FL Dems, GA Dems, Planned Parenthood, Trevor Project, NAACP, and Moms Against Violence.[1]

Elections

2022

See also: Florida's 15th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Florida District 15

Laurel Lee defeated Alan Cohn in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 15 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Laurel Lee
Laurel Lee (R)
 
58.5
 
145,219
Image of Alan Cohn
Alan Cohn (D)
 
41.5
 
102,835

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 248,054
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 15

Alan Cohn defeated Gavin Brown, Eddie Geller, Cesar Ramirez, and William VanHorn in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 15 on August 23, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Alan Cohn
Alan Cohn
 
33.1
 
14,928
Image of Gavin Brown
Gavin Brown Candidate Connection
 
22.3
 
10,034
Image of Eddie Geller
Eddie Geller Candidate Connection
 
21.9
 
9,859
Image of Cesar Ramirez
Cesar Ramirez
 
17.3
 
7,817
Image of William VanHorn
William VanHorn Candidate Connection
 
5.4
 
2,435

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 45,073
Candidate Connection = 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 U.S. House Florida District 15

Laurel Lee defeated Kelli Stargel, Jackie Toledo, Demetries Grimes, and Kevin McGovern in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 15 on August 23, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Laurel Lee
Laurel Lee
 
41.5
 
22,481
Image of Kelli Stargel
Kelli Stargel
 
27.8
 
15,072
Image of Jackie Toledo
Jackie Toledo
 
11.6
 
6,307
Image of Demetries Grimes
Demetries Grimes Candidate Connection
 
10.4
 
5,629
Image of Kevin McGovern
Kevin McGovern Candidate Connection
 
8.7
 
4,713

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 54,202
Candidate Connection = 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

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Gavin Brown completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Brown's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

• Born and raised in Clermont, FL

• Graduated from FL State University, with degrees in Political Science, Theater, and Religion. He is also a registered Foreign Service Officer and enrolled at Harvard University for a credential in Public and Political Leadership • Managed State and Presidential Campaigns as a paid consultant • Interned for three summers with the American Shipbuilding Association in Washington, DC

-Running for the 15th Congressional District to bring energetic, honest, and dedicated representation to the residents in delivering high-paying jobs and quality of life. If elected, my office door will always be open to listening to the concerns and needs of district residents, regardless of their political affiliation or for whom they voted. I will be an elected official for all.
  • Future. Forward. Florida- Time for fresh, younger leadership in both parties to lead the way for the next generation. This includes looking our for women and LGBTQ rights to show what leadership is versus bullying.
  • Stand up for our schools, this includes teacher pay as well as school safety for our kids with regards to gun violence. This also includes funding our vocational schools as well as mandating a locked in rate for student loans that aren't set at a variable rate.
  • Close corporate tax loopholes with mailboxes purchased overseas by major corporations. We also need to understand the revenue that could be brought in by this closure to assist with funding environmental protections, strengthening health care, and funding future jobs in energy sources such as wind, solar and water.
-Investment in FL Career Colleges to train the workforce of today and tomorrow to meet labor shortfalls in all careers from agriculture, electricians, plumbers, welders, mechanics, etc. all jobs that will also meet our future needs in combating climate warming and manufacturing for the future.

-Infrastructure investment is desperately needed to address the rapidly growing population of our area. This investment will also create high-paying jobs for our residents.
-Infusion of clean energy into the community through tax incentives for all small and medium-sized companies manufacturing and deploying solar, wind, and other alternative energy sources.
-Increased funding for our local police while making community policing a requirement as well as wearing body cams to protect the police from public doubt.
-Offer incentives to FL schools to continue funding the arts and civic education.
-Support clean water for our oceans, riverways, and lakes.

-Support buying only American-made products with U.S. Taxpayer dollars to ensure an uninterrupted supply chain for our critical needs from defense to medical equipment, while creating high-paying American jobs. Time to close overseas tax loopholes on corporations that pay zero in taxes on mailboxes that American taxpayers pay for.
I am lucky to have several mentors. I would say Fmr Governors/Senators Bob Graham, Bill Nelson, and Lawton Chiles in Florida politics. I would also add Alex Sink who was FL's CFO and would have been a great Governor. My major support system/mentor is Fmr Congresswoman Karen Thurman who was also the Fmr head of the Florida Democratic Party. She is such a trailblazer and I am so proud to have her endorsement. All of the above stood up for principle over politics and that is exactly what I will do and why I am running.
Team of Rivals- this book documents Lincoln's thinking of picking people who disagreed with him on many issues so he could hear out pros and cons from people who could make him think outside of his usual political circle. Given the time and issues that were happening during his Presidency, this was very noteworthy and we should have more leaders that do the same.
Character, integrity, principle, hardworking, proven leadership, and honesty.
I am a tireless worker who is ready to get to work for the people of my district. I have the resume and background that have proven I can do so. I am who I am and not afraid to speak up and be proud of that message. I will be ready, day one.
To serve their constituents to the best of their ability regardless of their party affiliation or who they voted for in your particular office. My door will always be open whether you voted for me, against me, or not at all. That is what every member should hold strive to do. Listening is way more beneficial than talking.
I would hope that it would be to pave the way for the next generation of leaders to follow in the footsteps of what I have laid out that I strive to leave behind.
When I was able to attend President Clinton's first Presidential Inauguration (Hillary later told me that I must have been in a stroller at the time) :). I remember going to the actual ceremony (boy it was cold) and then attending a few balls and the Gala. The thing I remember most was being on the plane with then-Governor Lawton Chiles who invited me to sit with him and talk about government and politics. He was a great man and Governor of FL.
While attending South Lake High School in Clermont, Florida, I worked at the retail shop at House of Blues by Disney. I got that job when I was 16 and stayed until I was 18 and had to leave to attend FSU for college. I consistently received high praises from management and was rewarded with bonuses and raises while I worked there.
I mentioned it early but, Team of Rivals. It lays out while Lincoln surrounded himself with rivals who disagreed with his stances at a time of turmoil in our country. He wanted to hear out the pros and cons and our nation needed that. I wish leaders of today would have this as required reading as to how to govern and lead with a compromise to succeed.
Jed Bartlett- West Wing
Simply The Best- Tina Turner
Losing so many friends and family, particularly to gun violence and cancer.
The House is the frontline ahead of the Senate to put the legwork in to tee up issues that affect everyday Americans. House reps also have a unique position to be more in touch with their constituent base and help with their issues versus in the Senate due to the size of districts.
I do think that for any job or position previous experience matters. I would rather elect someone who can go on day one with some sort of knowledge/background working legislatively in government or understanding how campaigns work. I would rather have someone who is ready to get to work on day one, versus having someone go in with training wheels. We see how this has worked for certain members in both parties who look toward vanity versus wanting to get to work and do the job they were elected to do.
Bridging the divide between the far left and far right. We need common-sense leaders who can negotiate as the maverick independent-minded middle-of-the-road types who can regain public confidence in our leaders. The American people are sick of infighting, we need leadership, not shouting matches.
Appropriations, Ways and Means, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Intelligence.
N/A
I actually believe that a 4-year term would be way more beneficial. As soon as a Rep is elected, they are forced to start raising money right away versus spending time focusing their time on legislating versus fundraising.
I understand people's frustration with career politicians who run year after year and forget where they came from and why they ran. However, I do believe in the Democratic process and if people want term limits for a particular candidate, your power is your vote. There is something to be said about members who have gained seniority to benefit their districts and gain experience understanding the legislative process's constituent base. If you want to term limit your officials, your power is with your vote.
Congresswomen Karen Thurman and Gabby Giffords both showed such integrity and strength in their fights.
I was at an event where a woman came up to me thanking me for standing up to protect the Affordable Care act. She told me that in 2006 before the bill was passed, she was demoted from her job to part-time as soon as her company found out she had breast cancer and had to start chemo. She was trying to pay her mortgage, and get her daughter to college, and then is blasted with outrageous costs to pay to save her life. She was a perfect employee and the only reason she was demoted was so the company could save a buck by not paying for her health care. She then reminded me that when I worked as a staffer in her district for a state House Rep, I forwarded her concern to my boss and he called and got her back to full-time. This is what legislating and making a difference is all about.
Politician was a guest speaker at the golf club dinner. As the politician stood up to speak, a few of the men saw it as an opportunity to sneak off to the bar. An hour later, with the politician still talking, another man joined them. “Is he still talking?” they asked him. “Yes.” another man answered. “What on Earth is he talking about?” “I don’t know. He’s still introducing himself.”
Compromise is necessary for any type of business dealing and that includes policy. No one should ever agree 100% of the time with a candidate/position otherwise they show ignorance and lack of doing their homework on that person/policy area. I would rather have a candidate that I can agree with 75% of the time versus one from another party that could win that I would agree with 0% of the time.
This is why being a member of the House is important to have oversight and knowledge of the process to ensure success for everyday Americans but also knowing what is doable versus what is impossible to pass.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Brown submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on May 28, 2022.

Campaign website

Brown's campaign website stated the following:

“

Fight for Climate Equity.

Every Floridian has the right to clean air, water, and land. Yet over and over, politicians get kickbacks from the very corporate interests that pollute our air and water. Gavin will invest in Florida’s transition to clean energy, end the extraction of fossil fuels, and stop greenhouse gas pollution.


Advance Transit Opportunity.

We have few modern public transportation options in our district. We must keep up with the times and invest in sustainable transit. Gavin will invest in public transit to rehabilitate, modernize, and expand accommodations and systems so that more Floridians have access to quality transportation options.


Invest in Infrastructure.

We need roads and bridges to get us to work and back. We need maintained sewer and water systems to keep our families healthy. We need safe schools, and the energy to power it all. Gavin will fight to increase infrastructure spending to create jobs and boost the economy, with funds targeted to engage and benefit black, Hispanic, and low-income communities that have been historically shut out of economic growth due to discrimination and underinvestment.


Raise Job Standards.

Floridians work hard, and that should provide enough to sustain our families. Yet we continue to lag behind other states when it comes to the way we treat our workers. Gavin will fight to raise the standards for Florida jobs so that all working Floridians get paid fairly. This policy includes a higher minimum wage, stable scheduling, paid sick time, protection from wage theft, protections from being improperly classified as an independent contractor, and increasing overtime pay when people work long hours.


Protect People With Disabilities.

1 in 4 people in Florida identify as having a disability. We must ensure all housing, transportation, businesses, and public places are ADA compliant and provide reasonable accommodations. Gavin will fight to eliminate waitlists and ensure Floridians (and all Americans) with disabilities receive the services they need.


Guarantee Fair Employment.

Gavin will fight to provide additional resources to strengthen the enforcement of fair employment laws and expand civil rights laws to clarify that discrimination based on race, gender, identity, sexual orientation, religion, personal credit history, pregnancy status, or caregiving responsibilities are illegal. Gavin will ensure people with arrest or conviction records have a fair chance to work.


Right to Public Jobs and Freedom To Negotiate.

Gavin will push for a guarantee of a public job with the federal government as an employee of last resort for working Americans and Floridians who are involuntarily employed, poorly paid or underemployed, or out of the workforce. Gavin will fight to prioritize racial equity in the program design to repair systematic limitations to opportunity for black Floridians. Gavin will also fight to restore worker’s freedom to join together in unions and negotiate for a fair return on work.


Ensure Paid Time to Care for Loved Ones.

Gavin will sponsor legislation to provide paid benefits to working people who need time away from their jobs to care for a new child, a loved one with a serious health condition, or their own serious health condition.


Establish Debt Free College.

Gavin will fight for debt-free college by creating a new federal-state partnership to increase state funding for public 2-year and 4-year colleges, guaranteeing that the total price of attending college is no more than what working and middle-class students can reasonably pay with a part-time job, and increasing the availability of needs-based aid for low income students.


Forgive Student Debt.

Gavin will support legislation which will promote fairness for student borrowers by prohibiting garnishment to repay student loans, providing an easy path to loan forgiveness for borrowers who have been defrauded or deceived by predatory colleges, expanding loan forgiveness programs for public service workers, and ensuring the opportunity to discharge student loan debt in bankruptcy.


Reinvest in Justice.

Gavin will fight for federal funds to assist states in investing in programs that address the root causes of crime and investing in programs that address the root causes of crime and incarceration, including amending sentencing laws, modifying prison and jail release practices, and investing in underfunded communities.


Decriminalize Poverty.

Gavin will fight for federal incentives for state and local governments to end the use of money bail and to reduce and eliminate fines, fees, and other mechanisms through which our justice system criminalizes poverty.


Clear the Path to Citizenship.

Gavin will support legislation to fix our broken immigration system so that people have an opportunity to get legal status, enabling them to contribute and participate more fully in our economy and society.


Ensure Healthcare for All.

Gavin will push to expand the ACA, bring health professionals and advocates into the conversation, and build a path for health coverage for all Americans.


Make Housing Affordable.

Gavin will help rebalance Florida’s housing investments so that resources go to people who need them most.


Reinstate Reproductive Freedom.

Gavin has worked on campaigns for women's rights his entire adult life. Gavin will sponsor and fight for legislation which will safeguard the economic security of women and their families by ensuring that health plans include reproductive health coverage of abortion services by Medicaid and other federal health insurance programs.


Provide Childcare for All.

Gavin will fight to guarantee universal access to affordable, high-quality childcare and preschool programs for all Floridian families, and improve compensation and training for childcare workers.


Secure Retirement for All.

After a lifetime of work, all Americans deserve to retire in dignity. Gavin will fight to strengthen workplace retirement accounts and expand social security.


Make Taxes Fair.

Gavin will sponsor legislation to make our tax structure fair by reducing the estate tax exemption and raising the estate tax rate, taxing investment income at the same rate as income from work, closing tax loopholes.


Protect Consumers and Competition.

Americans and Floridians deserve a level playing field. Small businesses deserve a chance to prosper, and working people deserve a fair deal on the job. Gavin will block corporate consolidation that benefits companies at the expense of the public.


Gun Safety.

Gavin will fight to close the domestic violence loophole, close the gun show loophole, and protect people experiencing mental illness and their families.


Voting Rights.

Gavin will fight for improved voter registration practices and proper safeguards, support county supervisor of elections offices and convenient voting, and to stop gerrymandering at a local, state, and national level.


Environmental Action.

Gavin will sponsor legislation to create new jobs from manufacturing to coding, develop an environmental tech workforce, and ensure equitable regional investment.


Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform.

Gavin will go to the House floor to combat the fundamental causes of violence, reduce gun violence, and support and invest in law enforcement.[2]

”
—Gavin Brown's campaign website (2022)[3]

See also

2022 Elections

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External links

Candidate

U.S. House Florida District 15
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 14, 2022
    2. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    3. ↑ Gavin Brown for Congress, “Issues,” accessed August 22, 2022


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