Andrew Gillum is a former American politician who served as the 126th mayor of Tallahassee, Florida from 2014 to 2018. A Democrat, he was first elected as a Tallahassee city commissioner in 2003 at age 23, serving in that role until 2014 when he became mayor. Gillum unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Florida in 2018.
1998: Graduated from Gainesville High School
Andrew Gillum graduated from Gainesville High School in 1998 and was recognized as one of the city's "persons of the year" by the Gainesville Sun.
2001: FAMU Student Government Association President
Andrew Gillum began his term as president of the FAMU Student Government Association in 2001.
2001: Top Student Leader Recognition
In 2001, Andrew Gillum was recognized as the country's top student leader by the National Center for Policy Alternatives.
2002: End of Term as FAMU Student Government Association President
Andrew Gillum finished his term as president of the FAMU Student Government Association in 2002.
2003: Recognized as "Emerging Leader for 2003"
Andrew Gillum was recognized as an "Emerging Leader" by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in 2003.
2003: Elected to Tallahassee City Commission at 23
In 2003, at 23 years old, Andrew Gillum became the youngest person elected to the Tallahassee City Commission.
2003: Elected to Tallahassee City Commission
In 2003, at the age of 23, Andrew Gillum was elected to the Tallahassee City Commission, becoming the youngest person ever to hold this position.
November 10, 2004: Begins Term as Mayor Pro Tem
Andrew Gillum started his one-year term as Mayor Pro Tem of Tallahassee on November 10, 2004.
2004: Ebony Magazine Recognition
In 2004, Andrew Gillum was named to Ebony magazine's "Fast Track 30 Leaders Who Are 30 and Under."
2004: Re-elected to Tallahassee City Commission
In 2004, Andrew Gillum won re-election to the Tallahassee City Commission with 72% of the vote.
January 2005: Chairperson of Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency
In January 2005, Andrew Gillum began a one-year term as chairperson of the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency.
November 9, 2005: Ends Term as Mayor Pro Tem
Andrew Gillum's term as Mayor Pro Tem of Tallahassee ended on November 9, 2005.
December 2005: End of Term as Chairperson of Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency
Andrew Gillum's one-year term as chairperson of the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency ended in December 2005.
2005: Votes for New Retirement Benefit
In 2005, Andrew Gillum voted in favor of a new retirement benefit for city commissioners, a decision later reversed due to public disapproval.
2008: Re-elected to Tallahassee City Commission
In 2008, Andrew Gillum was re-elected to the Tallahassee City Commission.
May 24, 2009: Marriage
Andrew Gillum married Rashada Jai Howard, a fellow FAMU graduate, on May 24, 2009. They have three children.
2010: Essence Magazine Recognition
In 2010, Andrew Gillum was named an "Emerging Leader" by Essence Magazine.
2012: Outstanding Alumnus and Activist Recognition
In 2012, Andrew Gillum was honored as an Outstanding Alumnus by Florida A&M University and was also named one of "50 Young Progressive Activists Who Are Changing America" by The Huffington Post.
2012: Re-elected to Tallahassee City Commission
In 2012, Andrew Gillum was re-elected to the Tallahassee City Commission.
April 2013: Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Tallahassee
Andrew Gillum announced his candidacy for mayor of Tallahassee in April 2013.
2013: Supports Cascades Park Development
Andrew Gillum supported the development of Cascades Park, a stormwater management facility and park built in downtown Tallahassee in 2013.
August 26, 2014: Wins Mayoral Primary Election
Andrew Gillum won the Tallahassee mayoral primary election on August 26, 2014, with a significant majority.
August 27, 2014: Becomes Mayor-Elect
With the withdrawal of the write-in candidate on August 27, 2014, Andrew Gillum officially became the mayor-elect of Tallahassee.
November 21, 2014: Sworn in as Mayor of Tallahassee
Andrew Gillum was sworn in as mayor of Tallahassee on November 21, 2014.
2014: Washington Post Recognition
In 2014, Andrew Gillum was named one of the 40 Under 40 by The Washington Post's political blog "The Fix."
2014: Campaign Misconduct Allegations
During his 2014 mayoral campaign, Andrew Gillum faced allegations of misconduct related to the hiring of Adam Corey, an investor in a restaurant that received city funding, as his campaign treasurer. Gillum cut ties with Corey after an FBI investigation.
2014: Elected Mayor of Tallahassee
Andrew Gillum served as the 126th mayor of Tallahassee, Florida from 2014 to 2018.
January 2015: Supports "Ban the Box" Campaign
In January 2015, Andrew Gillum voiced his support for the "Ban the Box" initiative, advocating for fair employment opportunities and reduced recidivism.
February 17, 2015: Welcomes U.S. Transportation Secretary
On February 17, 2015, Andrew Gillum welcomed U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to Tallahassee to launch the Grow America Express Tour.
March 2015: Releases City Advisory Committees Survey and Participates in Conference Call with Florida Mayors
In March 2015, Andrew Gillum launched a survey to improve City Advisory Committees and participated in a conference call with other Florida mayors and the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce, advocating for trade promotion legislation.
March 27, 2015: Mayor's Summit on Children
On March 27, 2015, Mayor Gillum held a summit on the importance of investments in early childhood education, featuring expert speakers.
May 2015: 1,000 Mentors Initiative and Tallahassee Future Leaders Academy
In May 2015, Andrew Gillum launched the 1,000 Mentors Initiative and the Tallahassee Future Leaders Academy, a summer jobs program for youth.
October 2015: The Longest Table
In October 2015, Andrew Gillum's office organized the inaugural Longest Table event in Tallahassee. This initiative aimed to foster meaningful conversations among diverse individuals by bringing them together for a shared meal. The project received a grant from the Knight Foundation.
2015: Operation Safe Neighborhoods
In 2015, Andrew Gillum and the Tallahassee Police Department launched Operation Safe Neighborhoods to address increased shootings. The initiative focused on increasing police presence, strengthening community partnerships and programs, and enhancing community engagement through a neighborhood watch program.
February 2017: Email Software Controversy
In February 2017, Andrew Gillum issued an apology for using his government office to send emails via software purchased from NGP VAN, a company serving Democratic campaigns.
March 2, 2017: Reimbursement for Software
On March 2, 2017, Andrew Gillum reimbursed the city for the $5,082.45 cost of the NGP VAN software following controversy over its use.
March 2017: Gubernatorial Candidacy Announcement
Andrew Gillum announced his candidacy for governor of Florida as a Democrat in March 2017, becoming the first to declare his intention to run.
August 2017: Grand Jury Decision
In August 2017, a Leon County grand jury decided not to indict Andrew Gillum for any criminal wrongdoing related to the email software controversy.
November 6, 2018: Initial Concession and Recount
On November 6, 2018, Andrew Gillum initially conceded the gubernatorial election to Ron DeSantis, but later withdrew his concession and called for a recount.
2018: Gubernatorial Race Aftermath
After his narrow defeat in the 2018 Florida governor's race, Andrew Gillum faced personal struggles, including alcohol and depression, leading to a 2020 incident and his entry into rehabilitation.
2018: End of Term as Mayor of Tallahassee
Andrew Gillum's term as mayor of Tallahassee ended in 2018.
2018: Political Ideology
During the 2018 gubernatorial campaign, Andrew Gillum's political stances were described as progressive, and he was labeled a democratic socialist by some conservatives, a claim rated as false by PolitiFact.
2018: Policy Stances
In 2018, Andrew Gillum expressed his opposition to Florida's stand-your-ground law and supported Amendment 4, aiming to restore voting rights for felons who completed their sentences.
2018: Florida Gubernatorial Election
In 2018, Andrew Gillum was the Democratic nominee for governor of Florida, but narrowly lost to Republican Ron DeSantis.
January 2019: Ethics Violation Settlement
In January 2019, the Florida Commission on Ethics found probable cause that Andrew Gillum violated ethics laws by accepting unreported gifts. Gillum agreed to a $5,000 settlement for four of the five charges.
May 2019: FBI Subpoena
In May 2019, the FBI subpoenaed Andrew Gillum in connection to his gubernatorial campaign.
March 2020: Hotel Incident and Rehabilitation
In March 2020, Andrew Gillum was found inebriated in a Miami Beach hotel room with a male escort and suspected methamphetamine. Gillum entered rehab, citing struggles with alcohol and depression following his 2018 gubernatorial loss.
September 14, 2020: Coming Out
On September 14, 2020, Andrew Gillum publicly came out as bisexual during an interview with Tamron Hall.
June 22, 2022: Federal Indictment
On June 22, 2022, Andrew Gillum was indicted on 21 felony counts, including wire fraud and making false statements, related to alleged campaign finance violations. Gillum maintained his innocence and claimed the indictment was politically motivated.
2022: Indictment on Federal Charges
In 2022, Andrew Gillum was indicted on multiple federal charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy, and making false statements.
May 2023: Dismissal of Charges
In May 2023, federal prosecutors dismissed the remaining charges against Andrew Gillum after a jury found him not guilty on one charge and deadlocked on the others. The judge had previously rejected Gillum's claim of being targeted for his race.
May 2023: Dismissal of Federal Charges
In May 2023, the remaining charges against Andrew Gillum from the 2022 indictment were dismissed.