Florida - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida’s lone statewide elected Democrat, formally qualified to run for a fourth term Monday as he faces a challenge from Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
Nelson made his candidacy official as the qualifying period for federal offices opened at noon Monday.
Meanwhile, 17 of the state’s 27 incumbent U.S. House members also qualified when the period opened, with three --- Republicans Brian Mast of Palm City and Matt Gaetz of Fort Walton Beach and Democrat Val Demings of Orlando --- facing primary challenges.
Scott did not qualify Monday. Instead, his campaign team touted raising $3.2 million since Scott announced three weeks ago that he was entering the Senate race.
But it’s still early in the week. Federal candidates, along with candidates for judgeships and state-attorney and public-defender posts, have until noon Friday to qualify.
The qualifying period for other state and local offices will be June 18 to June 22.
While almost every congressional seat is expected to be contested, the first day of qualifying set up 11 Republican-Democrat clashes in November, with Democratic challengers in place for incumbent Republicans Neal Dunn, Ted Yoho, Bill Posey, Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan and Carlos Curbelo. Also, incumbent Democrat Charlie Crist faces a Republican challenger.
Four Republican-held U.S. House seats are being vacated this year, with Tom Rooney, Dennis Ross and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen retiring and Ron DeSantis running for governor.
Two potential high-profile candidates for congressional seats continued Monday to keep the pundits waiting.
State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, has said he is looking at Ross’ seat but did not immediately qualify.
Also, former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, a Democrat from Orlando, has been making noise about running but did not file paperwork Monday.
Former state Rep. Neil Combee, a Polk County Republican, is among those who did qualify Monday for Ross’ seat.
Also state Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, filed for Rooney’s seat. Steube has submitted his irrevocable resignation from the Senate --- effective Nov. 6 --- to meet the requirements of a new resign-to-run law (SB 186), which Scott signed on March 30.
The law, which Steube supported, requires local and state office-holders to resign their seats if running for federal offices that overlap their current terms. A similar law had already been in place for state and local officials running for other state and local offices.
As of 6 p.m. Monday, these U.S. Senate and congressional candidates had qualified, according to the state Division of Elections website:
Photo courtesy Celeste Monsour and Flickr.com.