Scott Randolph Opts Out of Florida House, Wants to Lead State Democratic Party

On Tuesday, Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando, announced that he would not seek re-election to the Florida House but would instead seek to be the chairman of the Florida Democratic Party.

Today I announced that I will not be seeking re-election to my final term in the Florida House, Randolph noted in a statement released on Tuesday before revealing that he intended to help his party and its officials up for re-election in November -- including President Barack Obama and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. I will instead focus my efforts on ensuring the Orange County Democratic Party plays a vital role in the many races in Central Florida as well as ensuring a victory for President Obama and Senator Nelson and preparing to run for the statewide office of chair of the Florida Democratic Party in January 2013.

Randolph, who is generally considered one of the more liberal members of the House Democratic Caucus, ripped into legislation passed by the Republican majority.

I have fought back against a radical agenda that continues to unfairly shift the tax burden to the middle class, that has left public education 15 percent lower in per-pupil spending than six years ago, and which has led an unrelenting attack not only on Floridas women, but all of Floridas families, continued Randolph. While intense gerrymandering left us in the minority, I am proud of our years in the Legislature. Before Rick Scott was elected, I led the efforts to defeat several voter suppression bills and attacks on womens health, as well as nearly all attempts to undermine Floridas protections for our water and beaches.

Randolph announced that he was backing Linda Stewart to take his place in the Florida House.