Jeb Bush

John Ellis "Jeb" Bush (born February 11 1953), a Republican, is the forty-third and current Governor of Florida. He is a prominent member of the Bush family, the younger brother of President George W. Bush and the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and Barbara Pierce.

2002 gubernatorial election

Before Bush's re-election, no Republican in Florida had ever been re-elected to serve a second term as the state's governor. In addition, there was likely no precedent for any governor to be branded by the opposition as its "Number One Target" for removal from office, as Bush was ranked in 2002. This was not merely a statewide effort to oust the Republican governor, but a much-publicized goal of the DNC and its highest leadership during the 2002 election cycle.

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The Democratic primary race

Bush almost faced a female candidate, Janet Reno, in the 2002 Florida governor's race. Reno, a well-known Florida native, experienced politician, and former US Attorney General, was a favorite candidate to Florida's most liberal voters. However, a number of other Democratic candidates also wanted to become Florida's next governor, including Bill McBride. A lawyer who owned a law firm in Florida, and a novice candidate, McBride was favored by national Democratic Party leaders in part because of his military background — and perceived ability to attract Florida's conservative voters. Neither McBride nor Reno had any expertise in what polls showed was the top issue to Florida voters: Education.

Related Topics:
Janet Reno - Bill McBride

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In the ensuing Democratic primary contest (where only Democratic voters could vote, pursuant to state primary laws), circumstances surrounding the razor-thin win by Bill McBride outraged many liberal Democratic voters in South Florida. Several pundits claimed what happened was actually far more unfair than any previously alleged voting irregularities in the state's history. Some voting venues – located in Reno's urban strongholds of Broward County and Dade County, and operated by Democrats elected as county election officials – reportedly opened hours late, and then ignored Bush's Executive Order, issued at Reno's request, to stay open later to accommodate all voters. As a result of this situation, Bush subsequently used his legal authority as governor to remove Broward County's Election Supervisor from office.

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The 2002 election results

In this closely watched Florida governor's race that continuously attracted national attention, Bush was re-elected in November 2002, becoming the first Republican in the state's history to be re-elected as governor. Bush defeated Democratic challenger Bill McBride with 56% to 43%, a greater margin of victory than in Bush's 1998 campaign for the governor's office. Bush also increased the number of counties in his victory column, winning several Florida counties for the very first time.

Related Topics:
November - 2002 - Republican - Bill McBride - 1998

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When Bush completes his term in January 2007, he will become only the second Florida governor to complete two full four-year terms in office, the first being Democrat Reubin O'D. Askew. Bush has often publicly said he believes he has the best job in the world as governor of Florida. However, Florida is a state with term limits, preventing Bush from seeking a third term.

Related Topics:
2007 - Reubin O'D. Askew

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Bush made political history not only by becoming the first Republican governor to ever win re-election in Florida, but also by being the first Florida governor to select a woman, Toni Jennings, to serve as Florida's lieutenant governor. No woman had ever been appointed or elected to that high office in Florida's executive branch. Nor has any woman served as Florida's governor. Bush has been quoted in local media as saying he is eager to see a woman lead Florida as its governor.

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Bush is also the first state governor to hold office while having a brother simultaneously serve as the nation's president. Perhaps even more notable to those who like to study election results is the following: back in Bush's initial race for governor in 1994, he lost by the smallest margin of votes in Florida history; however, after running on his first term record in his 2002 campaign for a 2nd term, he won by the largest margin of votes in Florida history.

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