Grayson enters Senate race, creating Florida primary fight for Democrats

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) launched his bid for the Senate on Thursday, creating a primary battle that Democrats had hoped to avoid for Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.).

In a video posted on his Facebook page, Grayson largely stuck to a positive message, highlighting his blue-collar upbringing in the Bronx that he credited with helping shape his liberal worldview.

{mosads}He also offered a nod to the fact that he is challenging his own party in making the run for Sen. Marco Rubio’s Senate seat.

“I am unbought and unbossed,” Grayson declared. “I am nothing to anyone but the people.”

Grayson’s entry is a source of frustration for national Democrats lining up behind Murphy, 32, a centrist Democrat and rising star in the party.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee endorsed Murphy early, and several big-name Democratic senators have donated to his efforts, including Sens. Bill Nelson (Fla.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Cory Booker (N.J.), Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Ron Wyden (Ore.) and Tom Carper (Del.).

Some Democrats in the state are worried he’ll bring a sideshow element to the campaign and that his scorched-earth politics will damage the eventual nominee. Grayson’s penchant for generating controversial headlines has helped him raise his profile as well as enormous sums of money.

In a statement, Murphy welcomed Grayson to the race while saying he hoped the liberal firebrand would keep things above-board.

“I look forward to a clean, honest discussion of the issues in this primary,” Murphy said.

The DSCC also released a statement but didn’t even mention Grayson.

“Patrick Murphy has spent his career fighting for Florida families, women, seniors and the environment, and he has proven himself to be a hard-working and responsible representative for his constituents,” DSCC spokesman Justin Barasky said. “He is running a strong campaign that’s focused on Florida, and we are confident that he will make a terrific Senator for the Sunshine State which is why he endorsed him.”

Murphy is already proving to be a strong fundraiser, announcing on Wednesday that he hauled in about $1.4 million, bringing his total cash on hand to $2.5 million.

But Grayson could be a formidable challenger. He has national name recognition and has similarly proved to be a strong fundraiser.

“Because of all the good we’ve done, more than 100,000 supporters have given their hard-earned money to our campaign,” Grayson said in his announcement video. “That’s more than any other Democrat in the House. In 2012 and again in 2014, I was the only member of the House who raised most of his campaign funds from small donors, not from lobbyists or special interests or millionaires or multinational corporations. I don’t work for them, I work for you.”

In addition to making headlines for his extreme rhetoric against Republicans — he has called them “foot-dragging, knuckle-dragging Neanderthals” — Grayson’s personal life has been in the spotlight.

The Florida Democrat is seeking an annulment from his wife, having accused her of bigamy. She has accused Grayson of cutting off financial support to her and their four children.

In addition, the independently wealthy Grayson has drawn scrutiny and criticism from some Democrats over disclosures related to hedge funds he manages.

Republicans also have a primary on their hands in picking a successor for Rubio, who is not running for the White House and not reelection.

Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), a veteran of the Iraq War, is running with the support of several fiscally conservative outside groups. This week, another combat veteran, Todd Wilcox, also joined the race.

Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) and Lt. Gov. Carlos López-Cantera are both expected to jump in soon.

On Thursday, Democrats sought to highlight the primary battle that Republicans in the state will be facing. 

“Republicans are dealing with a messy primary full of second-tier candidates after multiple first-choice candidates took a pass on the race,” Barasky said. “The contrast between Patrick Murphy and whichever Republican emerges from their chaotic primary will be stark, and we look forward to highlighting those differences.”