Simmons May Move, Bogdanoff Could be Out, in Senate Map

Registration counts could spell doom for Republicans in South Florida, while a pair of Central Florida heavyweights would have to square off unless one moves (as is expected), under the revised Senate map released Saturday.

Otherwise, there is little change from the first map -- rejected by the state Supreme Court -- that had no sitting incumbent facing the prospects of having to challenge another senator in the fall.

There will be no match-up of Senate President Don Gaetz, Niceville, and Sen. Greg Evers, R-Crestview, as some speculated.

But Democrats would see a potential to pick up a few seats, as the number of districts with Republican majorities through registered voter totals would decline from 26 to 23.

Two other districts -- District 8 in Central Florida and 17 in Pinellas County -- would be deemed competitive based on voter registration totals.

Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, would face stronger numbers of registered Democrats than in past elections under the court-ordered, amended map that was released Saturday, with her home shifted into a district that is already held by Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach.

If new maps now being drafted in Tallahassee don't produce a district with enough Republicans for a victory -- which would be exceedingly difficult in Democrat-heavy Broward and Palm Beach counties -- Bogdanoff won't run for re-election, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Meanwhile, the map also lands Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, into the same district with Sen. David Simmons, R-Maitland.

But Simmons said Saturday that if those lines hold up, he would simply move back into the Seminole-based Senate district, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

His current seat is 85 percent within Seminole County, a majority of his old House seat is in Seminole, and the former Longwood resident lived in the county for 15 years, until moving to Maitland in 2005.

The Senate Reapportionment Committee will review the map on Tuesday.