Friday marked the deadline for federal candidates to make the November ballot. While there are some competitive races, most of the congressional incumbents appear safe. Some of them have not even drawn an opponent from the other major party.
CD 1: While Jim Bryan, the Democratic candidate from 2008, wanted to make another run at incumbent Republican Jeff Miller, he does not have ballot status and will run as a write-in candidate. John Krasue, a pastor and private investigator, will continue his conservative challenge to Miller on the ballot with no party affiliation. So will Joe Cantrell.
CD 2: Congressman Allen Boyd will face a primary challenger from Senate Minority Leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee, for the Democratic nomination. Boyds Republican opponent from 2008, Eddie Hendry, is running again. Hendry will face Ron McNeil, attorney and former professional tennis player Barbara Olschner, pilot David Scholl and funeral home owner Steve Southerland for the Republican nomination. Charlie Ransom, a former assistant attorney general and legislative staffer, dropped out of the race on April 30. Conservative retired firefighter Paul McKain will continue his campaign with no party affiliation. Conservative activist and accountant Dianne Berryhill has pulled out of the Republican field and will also continue without party affiliation. Health administrator Ray Netherwood is running as a write-in candidate.
CD 3: Incumbent Congresswoman Corrine Brown will face a challenge from attorney Scott Fortune for the Democratic nomination. Businessman Dean Black, who used to host a radio show, will face businessman Mike Yost and Duval County Young Republicans President Chris Nwaskie for the Republican nomination. Realtor Terry Martin-Back is running with no party affiliation.
CD 4: Republican Congressman Ander Crenshaw will face a challenge from the right as conservative activist and Navy vet Troy Stanley has made the ballot with no party affiliation. Deb Katz Pueschel, who ran against Crenshaw in the Republican primary back in 2008, and author Gary Koniz are running as write-in candidates. There is no Democratic candidate.
CD 5: With Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite suddenly retiring on Friday due to health concerns, Hernando County Sheriff Rich Nugent is the favorite of the Republican establishment over conservative activist Jason Sager. Army veteran and small business consultant Jim Piccillo is the only Democrat in the race.
CD 6: Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns has avoided having a Democratic opponent, though 2008 nominee Tim Cunha had considered running again. Stearns faces former Winter Springs City Councilman Don Browning for the Republican nomination. The winner will face Dr. Steve Schonberg, a physician who served in the Navy and practices law. Schonberg, a campaign finance reform activist, is running without party affiliation.
CD 7: Republican John Mica will look to defend his congressional seat against Democratic challenger Heather Beaven, a Navy veteran from Flagler County. Economist Faye Armitage, who had run against Mica in 2008, is not in the race despite speculation she would make another attempt.
CD 8: Democrat Alan Grayson looks to defend his congressional seat against one of a host of Republican challengers. While there was talk that Grayson would be challenged in the primary by teacher Jim Holcomb, Grayson is the only Democrat in the race. While former state senator and House Speaker Daniel Webster, Rep. Kurt Kelly, R-Ocala, and businessman Bruce O'Donoghue are the favorites, the Republican field also contains business owner Ross Bieling, Navy vet Dan Fanelli, attorney Todd Long who ran for the seat in 2008 and tea party activist Patricia Sullivan. Entrepreneur Peg Dunmire is running as the Tea Party candidate. Steve Gerritzen is running as a write-in candidate.
C.D. 9: While there was talk that former Tampa mayoral candidate Arthur Richardson would challenge incumbent Congressman Gus Bilirakis in the primary, Bilirakis is the only Republican in the race. League of United Latin American Citizens activist Anita de Palma takes on Phil Hindahl for the Democratic nomination.
C.D. 10: Veteran Republican Congressman Bill Young faces Charlie Justice, a Democratic state senator from St. Petersburg, and write in candidate Martin Rokicki.
C.D. 11: Congresswoman Kathy Castor faces a challenge from Marine vet and tea party activist Tim Curtis for the Democratic nomination. Architect Eddie Adams, who had the Republican nomination in 2006 and 2008, is running again. Standing in his way are consultant Tony Buntyn, contractor and Vietnam vet Thomas Catellano and Mike Prendergrast, a veteran of the Army and former aide to Bob Graham.
C.D. 12: With Adam Putnam leaving Congress to run for state agriculture and consumer services commissioner, Dennis Ross, a former state representative, will battle it out with tea party activist John Lindsey for the Republican nomination. Polk County Elections supervisor Lori Edwards will duke it out with Douglas Tudor, who ran against Putnam in 2008, for the Democratic nod. Looking for a third party candidate to make a serious impact? Keep an eye on conservative Polk County Commissioner Randy Wilkinson who is running on the Tea Party line.
C.D. 13: Just like 2008, Congressman Vern Buchanan will face off once again against fire alarm contractor Don Baldauf for the Republican nomination. Businessman Rick Eaton and former Bradenton City Councilman James Golden-both veterans of the armed forces-will fight it out for the Democratic nomination. Jan Schneider is running with no party affiliation.
C.D. 14: Republican Congressman Connie Mack will face Democrat James Roach, a consultant who served in Vietnam, and real estate developer William Maverick St. Claire who is running with no party affiliation.
C.D. 15: Republican Bill Posey is hoping to defend his congressional seat against retired NASA official and Cape Canaveral City Councilwoman Shannon Roberts.
C.D. 16: While former Congressman Tim Mahoney decided not to pursue a rematch, there are two Democrats looking to take on Republican Congressman Tom Rooney. Army veteran Jim Horn, currently working as a business consultant, takes on Ed Tautiva, a middle school teacher, for the Democratic nomination. William Dean is running as a write-in candidate.
C.D. 17: Some of the candidates for the seat that Congressman Kendrick Meek is vacating to run for Senate predicted that the field would clear out once the filing process was complete. While realtor Leroy Adam, a Democrat, and teacher Corey Poitier, the only Republican who expressed serious interest in the race, are gone, there is still a crowd of candidates battling it out for the seat. Physician and businessman Rudy Moise has set up an impressive campaign operation and has fair outraised other candidates in the field. A host of legislators stand in Moises path to the Democratic nomination, including Sen. Frederica Wilson, Rep. Yolly Roberson and former Rep. Phillip Brutus (who was once married to Roberson). Rep. James Bush has filed for the race. Also in the field are local office holders and activists including Miami Gardens Mayor Shirley Gibson, Miami Gardens Councilman Andre Williams, North Miami Councilman Scott Galvin and Haitian-American activist Marleine Bastien. Attorney Roderick Vereen left the Democratic field and will continue running with no party affiliation.
C.D. 18: While there were rumors that Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen would face no opposition, she has drawn a Democratic challenger in Rolando Banciella.
C.D. 19: Newly elected Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch will take on Joe Budd who lost out to Ed Lynch in the Republican nomination for the special election earlier this year. While there were rumors that Lynch wanted a rematch with Deutch, he decided to forego it. Stan Smilian is running as a write-in candidate.
C.D. 20: Three Republicans will be battling to take on Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Restaurant owner Karen Harrington, Broward County businessman Robert Lowry and local activist Donna Milo are all running in the Republican primary. Gay rights activist Bob Kunst, who has made several attempts for various offices over the years, is running with no party affiliation, blasting Wasserman-Schultz and the Obama administration for abandoning Israel. Stanley Blumenthal is also running with no party affiliation. IT Consultant Clayton Schock is running as a write-in candidate.
C.D. 21: Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart jumped from the 25th C.D. to the 21st, saying the seat his brother Lincoln was vacating was safer for a Republican. Apparently it is. Mario Diaz-Balart is the only candidate for the seat despite talk that attorney William Sanchez would challenge him as a Democrat.
C.D. 22: Democratic Congressman Ron Klein is facing challenges on two fronts. Air Force Vet Paul Renneisen is back to one again challenge Klein in the primary. Retired Army officer Allen West, who lost to Klein in 2008, wants a rematch but he has to get by David Brady first for the Republican nomination.
C.D. 23: Long time Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings has a Republican challenger in Bernard Sansaricq, who once served in the Haitian Senate.
C.D. 24: Like her fellow Florida Democrat Klein, Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas faces opponents inside and outside her party. Former Winter Springs Mayor Paul Partyka will challenge Kosmas in the Democratic primary. Former Ruth's Chris CEO Craig Miller, Winter Park City Commissioner Karen Diebel and Rep. Sandy Adams are leading the crowded field for the Republican nomination with Navy vet Tom Garcia and attorney Deon Long trailing. Nicholas Ruiz is running as a write-in candidate.
C.D. 25: This is the seat that Mario Diaz-Balart vacated. Rep. David Rivera chased away some potential foes for the Republican nomination by his impressive fundraising. But he has not cleared the field. Attorney Marli Cancio, who had considered running as an independent, and Marine Corps vet and professor Paul Crespo stand in Riveras way for the Republican nod. Obama appointee Joe Garcia, who once chaired the Miami-Dade Democrats and ran for the seat in 2008, faces Luis Meurice for the Democratic nod. Roly Arrojo is running as the Tea Party candidate, while Craig Porter is the first Floridan to run for office on the Whig line since the 1850s.
