Florida state senator announces bid for Demings’s House seat

Florida state Sen. Randolph Bracy became the first Democrat to formally jump into the race for the congressional seat held by Rep. Val Demings (D).

Bracy, who first joined the state Senate in 2016, represents parts of Orlando and has been a top advocate for criminal justice reform. While no other contender has formally jumped into the race for the Democrats, former local prosecutor Aramis Ayala last week floated that she will run for the seat as well.

Demings is expected to mount a challenge to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and while the race to replace her in the House is likely to get crowded, Bracy could enjoy home-field advantage given that his state Senate district makes up 80 percent of Demings’s district.

“Our country needs urgent action on real police reform, on voting rights, on equity funding for jobs, healthcare, education and housing for long-neglected communities. That is the fight I took on in Tallahassee and I’m ready to lead on these issues right now in Congress,” Bracy said in a statement.

The announcement marks something of a reversal for Bracy, who in March teased a gubernatorial bid against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), a conservative darling and top target for Democrats in the 2022 cycle.

“The real fight for justice and equity is in Washington, D.C. where historic, consequential debates are happening right now,” he said.

News that Demings would run for the Senate first broke last week, handing Democrats a top-tier contender in what is expected to be a fiercely contested Senate race in a swing state. Her expected candidacy was significant enough to convince Rep. Stephanie Murphy, another Florida Democrat mulling a Senate bid, to instead run for reelection to her House seat.

“I salute the incredible work of Congresswoman Demings,” said Bracy. “I am the most experienced, prepared candidate to continue the work she’s done in Congress.”

The precise future borders for Florida’s 10th Congressional District are unclear given the upcoming redistricting process. However, the district as it stands now is safely Democratic, with Demings winning by 28 points, making it unlikely to be competitive for Republicans.