With one eye on a leadership contest in the Florida Senate down the road and another on races with national implications, state Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, appears headed to victory in November despite some changes to his district.
Thrasher, who served as speaker of the Florida House and as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), has traditionally been based out of the First Coast. His current Senate district stretched the Atlantic Coast, including parts of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler and Volusia counties. But with the Legislature tackling redistricting earlier in the year, Thrasher loses the northern part of the First Coast -- including Jacksonville -- and extends to a new county altogether.The new district contains all of St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties and part of Volusia County.
Despite the changes to the district, Thrasher appears ready to cruise in 2012 as, with barely over a week to go until the end of filing, no candidates have emerged to challenge him. Sources from some of the county Democratic parties informed Sunshine State News on Wednesday that they did not expect a major candidate to emerge from their ranks to take on Thrasher in this election cycle.
There are a number of reasons why Thrasher appears to be in extremely solid shape to win in November. He drew a major opponent in 2010 and did extremely well. While Democrats had high hopes for Deborah Gianoulis, a veteran television anchor from Jacksonville, Thrasher overwhelmed her at the polls, running off with more than 60 percent of the votes cast.
Thrasher also has an impressive war chest, having raised more than $428,000 by March 31, the end of the last recording period. The Republican senator has kept his powder dry -- as of March 31, he spent less than $124,000.
With Thrasher set to have an easy campaign season, he has been active on other fronts. Thrasher has been a longtime supporter of Mitt Romneys presidential ambitions and was an active supporter of the former Massachusetts governors win in the Florida primary back in January. Romney, for his part, has gone to bat for Thrasher. When the Florida legislator kicked off his campaign in 2010, Romney chaired the event. Romney also helped Thrasher raise funds during the 2010 cycle.
Thrasher has also been helping U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, who is running in the Republican primary to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. Mack selected Thrasher as one of his eight campaign co-chairmen on Tuesday.
Thrashers name has produced some buzz as a possible candidate to become president of the Florida Senate after the 2016 election cycle and he has been active in backing candidates in contested Republican Senate primaries. For example, in the Senate race to replace Sen. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, in representing parts of Nassau and Duval counties, Thrasher has backed former Rep. Aaron Bean over Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Jacksonville, and attorney Wyman Duggan in the Republican primary. Other names generating buzz to become Senate president after the 2016 election cycle include Sen. Jack Latvalla, R-St. Petersburg, and Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
