[New post] One quarter of Legislature poised for election without opposition as qualifying starts

Gray Rohrer posted: "By noon Friday, 25% of the Legislature could be elected without voters getting a say in the matter. Official qualifying for legislative races began Monday and ends at noon Friday. As of Monday afternoon, there were 10 Senate candidates and 30 House candi" Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. One quarter of Legislature poised for election without opposition as qualifying starts Gray Rohrer Jun 14 By noon Friday, 25% of the Legislature could be elected without voters getting a say in the matter. Official qualifying for legislative races began Monday and ends at noon Friday. As of Monday afternoon, there were 10 Senate candidates and 30 House candidates without opposition. If they don't attract an opponent by the end of the week, they assume office after the November elections without having to campaign. That list could grow or shrink by the end of qualifying week, if last-minute candidates jump in races or if candidates who previously filed their intention to run drop out. There could be other complications as well. For instance, the only candidate who has filed an intent to run in House District 97 is Lisa Ann-Marie Dunkley, a Sunrise Democrat. But although she filed her intention to qualify by petition, the Division of Elections shows her as returning 437 petitions as of May 23, 162 short of the 599 necessary to qualify by petition. She'll have to pay the $1,781.82 fee by Friday to qualify in lieu of the petition method. Future legislative leaders such as Senate President Designate Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican, Rep. Danny Perez, a Miami Republican slated to become House Speaker in 2024, and Rep. Sam Garrison, a Fleming Island Republican poised to succeed Perez as Speaker in 2026, do not have opponents so far. Just as in the Legislature at large, Republicans greatly outnumber Democrats in running unopposed. In the Senate, seven of the unopposed candidates are Republicans and three are Democrats, and in the House the split is 23-7 in favor of the GOP. Here is the list of candidates without opponents for their respective races so far: Senate District 4 – Rep. Clay Yarborough, Jacksonville Republican Senate District 11 – Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, Spring Hill Republican Senate District 17 – Sen. Linda Stewart, Orlando Democrat Senate District 23 – Sen. Danny Burgess, Zephyrhills Republican Senate District 25 – Sen. Victor Torres, Kissimmee Democrat Senate District 28 – Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, Naples Republican Senate District 29 – Rep. Erin Grall, Vero Beach Republican Senate District 31 – Sen. Gayle Harrell, Stuart Republican Senate District 37 – Sen. Jason Pizzo, Miami Democrat Senate District 40 – Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, Miami Republican House District 4 – Rep. Patt Maney, Shalimar Republican House District 7 – Rep. Jason Shoaf, Port St. Joe Republican House District 10 – Rep. Chuck Brannan, Macclenny Republican House District 11 – Rep. Sam Garrison, Fleming Island Republican House District 12 – Rep. Wyman Duggan, Jacksonville Republican House District 24 – Rep. Joe Harding, Williston Republican House District 26 – Rep. Keith Truenow, Tavares Republican House District 27 – Rep. Stan McClain, Ocala Republican House District 31 – Rep. Tyler Sirois, Merritt Island Republican House District 48 – Rep. Sam Killebrew, Winter Haven Republican House District 49 – Rep. Melony Bell, Fort Meade Republican House District 63 – Rep. Dianne Hart, Tampa Democrat House District 71 – Rep. Will Robinson, Bradenton Republican House District 72 – Rep. Tommy Gregory, Sarasota Republican House District 75 – Rep. Michael Grant, Port Charlotte Republican House District 76 – Rep. Spencer Roach, North Fort Myers Republican House District 79 – Rep. Michael Giallombardo, Cape Coral Republican House District 81 – Rep. Bob Rommel, Naples Republican House District 82 – Rep. Lauren Melo, Naples Republican House District 83 – Rep. Kaylee Tuck, Lake Placid Republican House District 95 – Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, Parkland Democrat House District 97 – Lisa Ann-Marie Dunkley, Sunrise Democrat House District 102 – Rep. Michael Gottlieb, Davie Democrat House District 104 – Rep. Felicia Robinson, Miami Gardens Democrat House District 105 – Rep. Marie Woodson, Hollywood Democrat House District 110 – Rep. Tom Fabricio, Miramar Republican House District 111 – Rep. David Borrero, Sweetwater Republican House District 112 – Rep. Alejandro Rizo, Hialeah Republican House District 116 – Rep. Danny Perez, Miami Republican House District 117 – Rep. Kevin Chambliss, Homestead Democrat Comment Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.. Change your email settings at manage subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://floridapolitics.com/archives/532112-one-quarter-of-legislature-poised-for-election-without-opposition-as-qualifying-starts/ Powered by Jetpack