While most eyes in Tallahassee are focused on the 2014 election cycle when Gov. Rick Scott faces a difficult battle for a second term, three members of the Florida House are already starting to raise cash for state Senate seats up for grabs in 2016.
Facing term limits in the House, Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, is running for Senate President Don Gaetz's seat. Gaetz, R-Destin, will be term-limited in 2016. Patronis jumped into the race in December 2012 and has already posted impressive fundraising numbers as he looks to represent parts of the Panhandle in the Senate. In the first quarter of 2013, he reeled in more than $90,500 and spent less than $3,500.
But Patronis is not expected to have a clear shot at the Republican nomination in this race, though no other candidates have jumped in yet. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Shalimar, has made no secret of his ambitions to take his dad's seat. So far, Gaetz is more concerned with running for another term in the Florida House in 2014. In the first quarter of 2013, he brought in $28,500 and spent less than $2,150.
While Patronis and Gaetz keep an eye out on 2016 -- and each other -- two House Democrats whose names have surfaced for state office in 2014 are also looking to move over to the Florida Senate in 2016.
While Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, has attracted some attention as a possible candidate for state CFO in 2014, his eyes for the moment are on a Senate seat that represents parts of Broward County. Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, currently holds the seat but he term-limits out in 2016.
Waldman faces term limits in 2014 but hes already filed to run for the Senate in 2016. Since jumping in the race after the November elections, Waldman has raised $13,100, loaned his campaign $2,500 and spent less than $600. So far, no other candidates have entered the race.
House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, also hopes to move over to the Senate though his name has generated some buzz as a possible challenger to Attorney General Pam Bondi in 2014. The seat is currently held by Senate Democratic Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale.
After jumping in the race in January, Thurston has brought in $7,750 and spent less than $300. So far, he is the only candidate in the race.
Thurston hopes to follow in the steps of recent House Democratic leaders including Smith and Dan Gelber in moving over to the Senate. Former House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders was defeated by a House colleague -- Dwight Bullard -- in the Democratic primary for an open Senate seat last year.
Political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this story exclusively for Sunshine State News.
