The Latest: Gillum with wife: Race 'journey of our lives'

The Latest on Florida recount (all times local):

6 p.m.

Democrat Andrew Gillum says in ending his bid for Florida governor that the race "has been the journey of our lives" for the candidate and his wife R. Jai.

This image made from video posted on Andrew Gillum's Facebook profile on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, shows him with his wife, R. Jai, at a park in Florida. In the video, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate congratulated Republican Ron DeSantis but vowed to remain politically active although he gave no clues as his future plans. His term as Tallahassee mayor ends next week. (AP Photo)

Gillum posted a live video on Facebook on Saturday afternoon congratulating DeSantis. Gillum had conceded to Republican Ron DeSantis on election night, but retracted it after the margin between the two candidates narrowed. The race went to a legally required recount, but after an initial machine recount DeSantis still led Gillum by more than 30,000 votes.

In a statement from his campaign late Saturday, Gillum recalled how he had vowed earlier to "fight until the last vote is counted." He then adds that process has been gone its course and he wishes to congratulate DeSantis "on becoming the governor of the great state of Florida."

Adds Gillum, "This fight for Florida continues and I just wanted to thank you all for being along with us for at least this part of the journey, but the journey continues."

5:15 p.m.

Democrat Andrew Gillum says he is ending his hard-fought race for Florida governor and has congratulated Republican Ron DeSantis.

Gillum posted a live video on Facebook on Saturday afternoon in which he congratulated DeSantis. Gillum had conceded to DeSantis on election night, but retracted it after the margin between the two candidates narrowed. The race went to a legally required recount, but after an initial machine recount DeSantis still led Gillum by more than 30,000 votes.

Gillum, who is Tallahassee's mayor, isn't saying what he plans to do next.

"Stay tuned," he said in his brief remarks. Nonetheless, Gillum says he will remain politically active, adding "the fight for Florida continues."

Gillum's announcement came hours after President Donald Trump said on Twitter that Gillum will be a "strong Democrat warrior" and a "force to reckon with."

There was no immediate response from DeSantis or his campaign.

2:55 p.m.

A South Florida elections official says that her office has misplaced more than 2,000 ballots.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel posted video Saturday of Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes saying that 2,040 ballots had been "misfiled." Snipes did insist that the ballots were still in the elections building.

Snipes has already been under fire for the way her office has handled the election and recount.

Counties across the state are in the middle of a hand recount for two statewide races including the race for U.S. Senate.

State officials ordered a manual recount on Thursday after a machine recount showed that Republican Gov. Rick Scott led incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson by about 12,600 votes. More than 8 million voters cast ballots in the race.

11:50 a.m.

Officials say most of Florida's counties have finished their hand recount in the state's contentious U.S. Senate races.

State officials ordered a manual recount on Thursday after a machine recount showed that Republican Gov. Rick Scott led incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson by about 12,600 votes. More than 8 million voters cast ballots in the race.

At least 44 out of 67 counties have finished their hand recount in the Senate race. Many counties were spending Saturday doing a hand recount in another statewide race.

Counties have until noon on Sunday to report official results to the Department of State.

Several counties have posted hand recount updates on their websites. The totals for Nelson and Scott have changed slightly, but not significantly.

ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said on Friday she didn’t believe the United States would resort to military force to seize control of Greenland, urging a stronger role for NATO in the Arctic region to address U.S. security concerns.

Speaking during a traditional New Year press conference, Meloni said the use of military action in Greenland would not be in anyone’s interest and would have serious consequences for NATO.

“I still don’t believe in the possibility of the U.S. initiating military action to take control of Greenland,” Meloni noted, stressing that Italy wouldn’t support such a move.

The White House said Tuesday the U.S. administration is weighing “ options ” that could include military action to take control of the strategically located and mineral-rich island, which is a semi-autonomous region that is part of NATO ally Denmark.

“I think the Trump administration, with its somewhat assertive methods, is primarily focusing attention on the strategic importance of Greenland and the Arctic region for its security,” Meloni said. “It’s an area where many foreign actors operate, and I continue to believe the message from the U.S. is that it will not accept actions by foreign powers.”

The Italian conservative premier stressed that a reinforced NATO presence in the region would help smooth U.S. worries about rival actors gaining influence in the area, even with hostile intentions.

Meloni is considered one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Europe, trying to act as a mediator between the often conflicting interests of the U.S. and the European Union.

The Italian leader said it was “clear to everyone” that any U.S. military move on Greenland would have a significant impact on NATO.

Trump has floated since his first term the idea of purchasing Greenland from Denmark. But, after last weekend’s U.S. military action in Venezuela, he’s renewed calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland, citing strategic reasons.

The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain have defended the sovereignty of Greenland, along with Denmark, whose right to the island was recognized by the U.S. government at the beginning of the 20th century.

“I think international law must be fully defended,” Meloni said. “But I don’t understand what you’re asking when you say Italy must distance itself from the United States,” she added responding to a question about Trump’s aggressive policies.

Meloni stressed that Italy’s foreign policy is based on two pillars: Europe and the Atlantic Alliance.

“Of course, I don’t always agree with everything my allies say. The interests of nations don’t always perfectly overlap,” she added.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni holds her annual start-of-the-year press conference in the press room at the Lower Chamber, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italian journalists display banners demanding the renewal of their employment contracts in front of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during her annual start-of-the-year press conference in the press room at the Lower Chamber, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni listens to a journalist's question during her annual start-of-the-year press conference in the press room at the Lower Chamber, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni holds her annual start-of-the-year press conference in the press room at the Lower Chamber, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gestures during her annual start-of-the-year press conference in the press room at the Lower Chamber, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)