President Donald Trump on Monday demanded Florida stop its recount after last week's close gubernatorial and Senate races.
Trump, without evidence, tweeted that "large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere" and that "many ballots are missing or forged." He insisted that the Republican candidates he endorsed - Rick Scott for Senate and Ron DeSantis for governor - immediately be declared the winners.
The Florida Election should be called in favor of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots… https://t.co/9e9Qqkn9pq— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1542026653.0
Democrat Andrew Gillum, the Tallahassee mayor vying to be Florida's first black governor, responded to Trump.
"You sound nervous," Gillum tweeted to the president.
You sound nervous. #CountEveryVote https://t.co/9kRvTqUmwM— Andrew Gillum (@Andrew Gillum) 1542031999.0
People were here for it.
@AndrewGillum Man, you really know how to clap back. We love it! #BringItHome— JaelY007 (@JaelY007) 1542032179.0
@AndrewGillum Mr. Gillum, thanks for having the cojones to stand up for what is right.— Fiona Adorno (@Fiona Adorno) 1542032645.0
@AndrewGillum Mr. Gillum, I’m heartened everyday by your exceptional character. You’ve been a class act during your… https://t.co/aUIFfCUxd2— ChrisVC (@ChrisVC) 1542033800.0
Of course, Trump is nervous.
@AndrewGillum Cheaters are always nervous. Karma will catch up to him. I guarantee it...— S. Hattar-all things political (@S. Hattar-all things political) 1542032079.0
@AndrewGillum He is nervous. So are Scott, Rubio and DeSantis. I want every vote counted even if this costs our side the election.— Sean Flanagan (@Sean Flanagan) 1542032459.0
@AndrewGillum Ha, he is nervous! He can’t stand democracy. You know if the tables were turned he would want every v… https://t.co/Yq1DAEIEh5— Brenda 🇺🇸 🆘 2020 (@Brenda 🇺🇸 🆘 2020) 1542033549.0
He should be.
@AndrewGillum I really don’t know why Donny is so worked up about the recount. A recount doesn’t go in favour of an… https://t.co/0FKYBzL4hh— Wesley Chambers🇯🇲 (@Wesley Chambers🇯🇲) 1542032124.0
@AndrewGillum We don't "call elections" we count votes. Crazy I know.— Paul Cutlip (@Paul Cutlip) 1542032099.0
As of Tuesday night, it did not appear Gillum would be able to overtake his vote deficit, and so conceded the race to DeSantis.
Now, he has a different message to his supporters:
I am replacing my earlier concession with an unapologetic and uncompromised call to count every vote.— Andrew Gillum (@Andrew Gillum) 1541880511.0
Under Florida law, any margin of less than 0.5 percent triggers an automatic recount. The Gillum campaign on Thursday reportedly told April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks that DeSantis’s lead had dropped to less than 15,000 votes.
Scott, Florida's departing Republican governor, filed two lawsuits last week in heavily Democratic Palm Beach and Broward Counties, accusing Democrats of trying to steal the election - by counting all the votes.
People called Trump out. Declaring an election as fraudulent, sans proof, is what dictators do.
@KjellWilliams @AndrewGillum Not to mention an admission of complete incompetence of the state’s top election offic… https://t.co/4zzUjArz0h— Momus (@Momus) 1542032978.0
@AndrewGillum he sounds like a nervous authoritarian to me #counteveryvote— Paulette McCarron (@Paulette McCarron) 1542032102.0
The president wants his desired outcome to be the result, no matter the votes.
@threegirls618 @tammyhawk68 @RedshirtTheory @shattar0429 @ckunstman1 @AndrewGillum This is despicable. In a state w… https://t.co/653O48K7Ok— Lulu (@Lulu) 1542036191.0
@realDonaldTrump MUST GO with election night? U R not calling this! go worry about lives lost in fires. Wtf is wron… https://t.co/E8nlyue4FZ— Anne Michelle61 (@Anne Michelle61) 1542037112.0
@realDonaldTrump This process is not a game where you change the rules to suit you, Trump...and after your disgrace… https://t.co/T7izdgyEqr— Mary Hoffmann (@Mary Hoffmann) 1542037348.0
@realDonaldTrump I understand you don’t get the basic concept of being a President, but you are supposed to be in f… https://t.co/E5LOdGgiQ8— Marion (@Marion) 1542036921.0
@realDonaldTrump The Florida Election should be called in favor of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis because they are Rep… https://t.co/otBJEpcXye— Dogald J. Trump (@Dogald J. Trump) 1542037228.0
Not all votes are counted on election night.
@realDonaldTrump Going with election night results would disenfranchise our brave fighting men and women serving ov… https://t.co/iaCaUUY6Hx— Michael Murphy (@Michael Murphy) 1542037314.0
@WyrdChyk @realDonaldTrump Broward has 2 million people...more than the 14 smallest states. What "problem", specifi… https://t.co/eEyT9BWynm— MOSFET - Space Force Chief of Staff (@MOSFET - Space Force Chief of Staff) 1542037972.0
@mozzfett @WyrdChyk @realDonaldTrump Yes. The US Postal Service is not “out of nowhere”. #WorstPresidentEver— Smessa (@Smessa) 1542038326.0
All votes deserve to be counted.
@realDonaldTrump Every vote needs the be counted fair and square. Stop trolling democracy!— Erica Doering (@Erica Doering) 1542037917.0
@realDonaldTrump Every vote needs the be counted fair and square. Stop trolling democracy!— Erica Doering (@Erica Doering) 1542037917.0
@realDonaldTrump You truly are disgraceful!!! You are actively calling on dismissing cast votes- to disfranchise ci… https://t.co/EwmQgD8Uyo— andreadam101 (@andreadam101) 1542036974.0
@realDonaldTrump Yes, god forbid we make an effort to count every vote and ensure that the will of the people is re… https://t.co/uw3eNpGGex— Carolyn Petit is looking for work! (@Carolyn Petit is looking for work!) 1542037389.0
Trump only cares about Trump, others noted.
@AndrewGillum He doesn't represent America. He doesn't understand America. He doesn't love America. He loves exact… https://t.co/M3H9i4DJs0— Ben Stephens (@Ben Stephens) 1542032292.0
A machine recount must be completed by 3 P.M. on 11/15. If the margin is within 0.25 percent, a manual recount will take place. “In those races of what are known as undervotes and overvotes; the recounts would have to be completed by Nov. 18,” the New York Times reported last Thursday.