Health care executive Rick Scott, a political phenomenon who went from virtual unknown to the leading candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the course of a mere two months, filed his paperwork to make his bid official lateThursday morning.
Across the country, former governors are seeking to win back their old jobs. While the focus remains on California, where Jerry Brown, who was first elected governor in 1974, is seeking another chance, four other former governors -- Roy Barnes of Georgia, Terry Branstad of Iowa, Robert Erhlich of Maryland and John Kitzhaber of Oregon -- are waging campaigns for their old positions.
Could that happen in Florida?
Looking to become the first woman to serve as governor in Floridas 165-year history -- and hoping to break a losing streak for the Democrats who have not won a gubernatorial election since 1994 -- state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink filed the needed paperwork to ensure her name will be on the ballot.
Emmy award-winning journalist Deborah Gianoulis, a fixture on Jacksonville television as an evening news anchor for almost 25 years, announced Tuesday that she was running as a Democrat against Sen. John Thrasher of Jacksonville, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Thrashers district stretches from Nassau County, through Jacksonville and Duval County, and includes parts of St. Johns and Flagler counties before ending in Volusia County.
While leaders of the law enforcement community are not usually associated with Floridas race for agriculture and consumer services commissioner, they were on center stage Tuesday as rival candidates brought out endorsements from sheriffs from around the state.
Health care executive Rick Scott has hit the campaign trail. The Republican gubernatorial candidate, now leading in the polls over Attorney General Bill McCollum for the GOP nomination, campaigned through the Panhandle over the weekend, hit Bartow on Monday and will speak in Tallahassee on Thursday.
With Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, term-limited and running an underdog campaign for the Republican state CFO nomination, a battle is developing to replace him in the 26th District House seat with serious candidates from both parties in the mix.
Four candidates have emerged in the district, which stretches across Flagler and Volusia Counties, west of Daytona Beach. The district includes Lake Helen, Orange City, De Leon Springs and parts of DeLand.
On Monday former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, best known for his stab at the 2008 Republican presidential nomination and widely considered a candidate for the GOP nod in 2012, backed Attorney General Bill McCollum for governor and offered endorsements for other Sunshine State Republicans.
Gov. Charlie Crists veto of HB 1143, a measure requiring women considering having an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy to have an ultrasound, led to like-minded reactions from the governors rivals in a tight contest for the open U.S. Senate seat in November.
While Gov. Charlie Crist and gubernatorial candidate Bud Chiles are getting most of the attention, Florida is seeing a large number of independents taking on both the Democrats and Republicans in the 2010 elections.
Its exciting, said Michael Tupper, campaign manager for independent congressional candidate Troy Stanley who has offered a conservative challenge to veteran Republican U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw.
