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Guns, Trump and a $2,400 check to Marco Rubio: Fact-checking the final Democratic debate

PolitiFact reviews some of the key talking points in Thursday's gubernatorial debate. Here's what they found.
 
Published Aug. 3, 2018

Florida Democrats battling in the governor's primary fought to establish themselves as Enemy No. 1 of President Donald Trump in their last debate Thursday night.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum said he was the only one to call for Trump's impeachment. Former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine ticked off Trump's controversial 2016 election moments, while former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham criticized Trump for "ripping babies out of the arms of mothers."

Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene said he dissed Trump on TV and will work to undermine him — though businessman Chris King said Greene once called Trump a "great guy."

The winner of the five-way Aug. 28 Democratic primary will face either U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, endorsed by President Donald Trump, or Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Voting by mail has already started and early voting begins mid August.

All of PolitiFact's governor's race fact-checks

The Democratic winner faces an uphill historical battle: The last time a Democrat won the governor's seat was in 1994. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is the lone Democrat holding office statewide, and he faces a tough challenge from Gov. Rick Scott.

The Democrats went after Scott's two terms in office and explained what they would do differently on school funding and safety, guns, jobs, and the environment. But they weren't always accurate in their attacks against Scott and each other.

Read PolitiFact's review here.