OPINION: Nathan Crabbe: The era of bland centrists is over

Aug. 30--After Hillary Clinton's loss, I should have learned my lesson.

I supported Clinton in the 2016 presidential primary, arguing in this column that she would be able to accomplish more than Bernie Sanders with his pie-in-the-sky promises. Of course, Clinton never got the chance.

In Tuesday's primary election in Florida, I used similar logic in backing Gwen Graham, another candidate with a well-known name who was more middle-of-the-road than the opposition. This time, Democrats decided they were tired of nominating bland centrists only to watch them lose gubernatorial races in the state and went in a different direction.

Primary victories by Democrat Andrew Gillum as well as Republican Ron DeSantis suggest that voters are looking for bold candidates. Centrism and compromises might be needed in governing, but increasingly are a losing combination in elections.

The pieces submitted to the opinion pages in recent weeks show a growing desire for big ideas such as a universal basic income and expanding Medicare to cover all ages. Gillum was endorsed by Sanders and backs his "Medicare for all" bill, and also supports other far-reaching proposals such as a $15 minimum wage and legalizing marijuana in Florida.

Nominating someone who energizes voters, especially young and minority voters, makes a lot of sense in a midterm election when turnout is especially important. A local conservative who supported Adam Putnam for governor told me that he might have voted for Graham over DeSanatis if she was nominated, but there are fewer and fewer voters crossing party lines in today's polarized political environment.

The Gillum-DeSantis race shapes up to be the battle between Sanders and Donald Trump that never happened. DeSantis received Trump's endorsement and has emulated his anti-immigrant rhetoric, along with dog-whistle racism that DeSantis displayed in saying voters shouldn't "monkey this up" by electing Gillum.

It might motivate voters to make the race a referendum on Trump or about Florida having the chance to elect its first black governor, but it should be decided on what the candidates would do to solve our state's most pressing problems. Environmental degradation, health care insecurity and wage stagnation are national issues, but we need state policies and programs to address how these problems manifest themselves here.

While moving toward universal health care is the right answer on the federal level, Florida must do something else in the meantime to provide coverage for people who desperately need it. Thankfully Gillum supports expanding Medicaid in Florida as well as Medicare for all.

The era of bland centrists is over. But candidates should be able to offer practical proposals as well as promote the big solutions that are ultimately needed to address our biggest problems.

Nathan Crabbe is The Sun's opinion and engagement editor.

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