Pro-LGBT Kendrick Meek Wins Florida Democratic Senate Primary

Though he was outspent five-to-one by a billionaire opponent, Rep. Kendrick Meek beat real estate investor Jeff Greene for the Democratic Senate nomination in Florida. Meek becomes the first black Senate nominee from Florida.

Meek received about 55 percent of the vote versus Greene, who spent about $25 million on his campaign, reports the Miami Herald. The victory sets up a dramatic three-way contest for an open seat in November. Meek will face off against anti-gay, hard right Republican nominee Marco Rubio and former Republican turned independent Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.

"Floridians sent a clear message—they want a real Democrat representing them in the Senate," Meek said. "The naysayers said we couldn't beat a billionaire, and tonight with your help, we proved them wrong." And perhaps a swipe at both Crist and Rubio without naming them, Meek added: "Floridians want leaders who will fight for them all the time, not just when it helps their own political career or advances an extreme philosophy."

Meek has a 100 percent rating (PDF) from the Human Rights Campaign. Meek supports same-sex marriage and repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, and co-sponsored the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act,.

Meek, Crist and Rubio are seeking the seat vacated by Mel Martinez—the formerly rabidly right-wing anti-gay senator, and one-time Republican National Committee chairman. Martinez boasted a zero HRC rating and once infamously gay-baited .... his anti-gay Republican challenger.

Comments

[chamblee54]

"the only major black Senate candidate nationwide."
What about Micheal Thurman in Georgia?

[anonymous]

This is wonderful news. I hope he wins the election proper.

[Wolff]

This is fantastic. Let's hope that Crist and Rubio split the vote and Meek gets a win!

[Baltimore Femme]

WONDERFUL! YES WE CAN!

[DFS]

@Wolff, yeah its difficult to predict how the math will turn out but yes, hoping for the best for Kendrick!

[Jim]

@Wolff: That is something to hope for, and would be proper retribution to the Republicans for having jettisoned Crist for not being evil enough.

[Andy Niable]

Now let's put this man in the Senate. I just contributed to his campaign via ActBlue...

[Taylor Siluwé]

Awesome news ... and I think his chances are quite good.

Meeks' HRC rating is going to corner the pro-equality folks. He should get the black vote, except those ignorant churchified ones who think Meeks will burn for supporting equality.

While Crist notorious straight/gay sexuality will send some voters to either Meeks or Rubio.

Rubio's got teabags in his pocket and will corner the stone-age mentality vote.

And that's off the top of my head. It looks quite hopeful for Meeks.

[Justin S]

Congratulations to him!! Now the heat is on, the easy part was beating Greene. I hope he pulls through and besides, he is so DAMN FINE, id vote for em! LOL :)