Despite overwhelming celebrity support from such pop superstars as Rihanna and rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, Democratic Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum was defeated by Republican rival Ron DeSantis Tuesday evening.
Diddy had released a video endorsement, saying that he was “so proud to endorse Andrew Gillum, who will become the first black Governor of Florida.” Rihanna had urged her nearly 66 million Instagram followers to help make him Florida’s first-ever Black governor. Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffet even played a free concert in support of Gillum.
DeSantis narrowly defeated Gillum in the election, keeping the crucial swing state in Republican hands for the 2020 presidential election.