--- title: 'A Hit Dog Will Holler.' Andrew Gillum Debate Goes Viral description: Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum went after his Republican opponent Ron DeSantis' associations with racists at a Florida gubernatorial debate. canonical: https://time.com/5434734/andrew-gillum-a-hit-dog-will-holler/ author: Megan McCluskey article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-10-25T16:25:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-13T08:04:04.731Z og:title: Moment from Florida's Gubernatorial Debate Went Viral og:description: Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum went after his Republican opponent og:url: https://time.com/5434734/andrew-gillum-a-hit-dog-will-holler/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaa463871d9c704c7/69893d78656a3fb400bd5cc8/andrew-gillum-hit-dog-will-holler.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: Andrew-Gillum-Hit-Dog-Will-Holler og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Moment from Florida's Gubernatorial Debate Went Viral twitter:description: Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum went after his Republican opponent twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaa463871d9c704c7/69893d78656a3fb400bd5cc8/andrew-gillum-hit-dog-will-holler.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'A Hit Dog Will Holler.' This Moment from Florida's Gubernatorial Debate Went Viral > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=2cfe51c4-c1cb-4df3-babb-0ab452dd5625&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Andrew Gillum and Ron Desantis Florida Governor Debate Gets Heated [Watch (HLS stream): Andrew Gillum and Ron Desantis Florida Governor Debate Gets Heated](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/n8gbwNKY.m3u8) (0:23)  _Published 2018-10-25. Andrew Gillum and Ron Desantis Florida Governor Debate Gets Heated_  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Oct 25, 2018 4:25 PM UTC  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Oct 25, 2018 4:25 PM UTC Even in key states like [Florida](http://time.com/5434033/florida-girls-arrested-knives-blood/), [gubernatorial debates](http://time.com/5349541/stacey-abrams-georgia/) are not often the source of national attention. But when [Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum](http://time.com/5395686/historic-candidates-midterms-2018/) went after his [Republican opponent Ron DeSantis’](http://time.com/5381672/ron-desantis-andrew-gillum/) associations with racists at a debate on Wednesday, a clip of the moment racked up more than 4 million views. “My grandmother used to say, ‘A hit dog will holler,’ and it hollered through this room,” Gillum said, referencing a [19th century proverb](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/10/25/hit-dog-will-holler-old-proverb-used-by-andrew-gillum-suggest-ron-desantis-harbors-racist-views/?utm%5Fterm=.0de60f507a1b) that suggests that a defensive response to a statement indicates guilt. “Mr. DeSantis has spoken. First of all, [he’s got neo-Nazis helping him out](https://www.businessinsider.com/white-supremacist-group-attacks-andrew-gillum-with-racist-robocall-2018-8) in this state. He has [spoken at racist conferences](https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/desantis-speaks-at-david-horowitz-freedom-center-conference/2018/09/10/6c070cc4-b297-11e8-8b53-50116768e499%5Fvideo.html?utm%5Fterm=.53240f06d888). He [accepted a contribution and would not return it](https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/GOP-Gov-Nominee-Ron-DeSantis-Not-Returning-Cash-to-Donor-Who-Called-Former-Pres-Obama-N-word-493927761.html) from someone who referred to the former president of the United States as a Muslim n—–. When asked to return that money, he said no. He’s using that money to now fund negative ads. Now, I’m not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist. I’m simply saying the racists believe he’s a racist.” > [](https://twitter.com/AndrewGillum/status/1055265872930095104) The heated moment quickly began making the online rounds after Gillum tweeted it out on Wednesday, with [some pointing out](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/10/25/18022094/gillum-desantis-florida-governor-debate-racists) that politicians are often hesitant to directly suggest that their opponents are racist or complicit with racism. U.S. Rep. DeSantis is best known around the country for his own viral moment, an ad he aired during the Republican primary race for governor in which he encouraged his daughter to, “Build the wall,” with toy blocks and read President Donald Trump’s book _The Art of the Deal_ aloud to his infant son. A [Siena College/_New York Times_ poll](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/governor/florida/) taken Oct. 23-24 showed Gillum with an eight-point lead over DeSantis among likely voters. ## Transcript My grandmother used to say " a hit dog will holler and it hollered to this room. Mr. Desantis has spoken, first of all he has neo- Natzi's helping him out in this state. He has spoken at racist conferences. He's accepted a contribution and would not return it to someone who referred to our former President as a Muslim N- I- G- G- E- R. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5434734/andrew-gillum-a-hit-dog-will-holler/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5434734/andrew-gillum-a-hit-dog-will-holler/"},"headline":"'A Hit Dog Will Holler.' 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