Stacey Abrams, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in Georgia, on Sunday condemned Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s use of the phrase “so cotton-pickin’ important” to describe Florida’s governor race.
Perdue made the comment Saturday at a rally for Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis, who is running against Democrat Andrew Gillum in the Sunshine State. Both Abrams and Gillum are campaigning to become the first black governors in their respective states’ histories.
“I think that there is certainly a throwback element to the language that we’re hearing coming out of the Republican Party, that is unfortunately disparaging to communities,” Abrams said during an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union.” “It may be unintentional, but it signals a deeper misinformation about what Andrew Gillum can accomplish, what I can accomplish, and what we are going to do is stand on our records, and our plans, and we’re going to win these elections.”
“Public policy matters. Leadership matters,” Perdue said, according to audio provided to Politico by American Bridge. “And that is why this election is so cotton-pickin’ important to the state of Florida. I hope you all don’t mess it up.”
Perdue was governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011.
Race has repeatedly been dredged up in Florida’s tight contest for the governor’s mansion. DeSantis was heavily criticized in August for warning voters not to “monkey” up the election by voting for his opponent shortly after he secured his party’s nomination.
Gillum hit DeSantis on the issue in October during their final debate.
“I’m not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist,” Gillum said. “I’m saying the racists believe he’s a racist.”
[Opinion: Ron DeSantis said something stupid. That doesn’t make him a racist]
