Tallahassee Mayor and Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum addressed his Republican opponent's coddling of racists during Wednesday's debate between the two candidates for governor. 

The Democrat, who is in the running to become the state's first Black governor, has been besieged by racist attacks from Rep. Ron DeSantis' supporters.

Gillum mentioned one of DeSantis' donors called former President Barack Obama a "Muslim N****r.” Instead of turning down the donation, DeSantis used it to fund negative ads, according to the mayor. 

Newsweek reports the DeSantis campaign defended the donor's incendiary tweet confirming Gillum's allegation. Additionally, hours after Gillum's received the Democratic party's official nomination in August, DeSantis said his opponent's candidacy would "monkey up" the election.  

“I’m not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist. I’m simply saying the racists believe he’s a racist,” Gillum said. “My grandmother used to say a hit dog will holler, and it hollered through this room.”

Earlier this week, Blavity reported Florida residents have received racist robocalls paid by Idaho-based white supremacist website The Road to Power.

The call featured a rendition of a classic white supremacist talking point warning of Jewish world domination. Jews are “the ones that been putting Negroes in charge over the white folk, just like they done after the Civil War.”  

The representative has been on record urging Floridians not to vote for Gillum because he would "monkey" up the state. During the debate, DeSantis deflected all allegations.  

“How the hell am I supposed to know every single statement somebody makes?” DeSantis fired back. “I am not going to bow down to the altar of political correctness. I’m not going to let the media smear me.”

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andrew gillumRep. Ron DeSantis