Two Dems Have Already Filed to Take on Ritch Workman in 2012

Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, has hit the ground running, and while he is only in his second term in the House, he has become increasingly visible on a number of issues. For example, Workman led the pension reform effort for state employees in the House and was active in calling for an Arizona-style immigration law in Florida.

Two Democratic candidates -- John Paul Alvarez and Kimberly Whiting -- have already filed to run against Workman in 2012 (what, no third showdown between Workman and Amy Tidd?). Keep an eye on Whiting: A former prosecutor and the wife of an Air Force officer, she could be poised to make a dash for the center. At first glance, she does not seem to be as liberal as Tidd, who lists Russ Feingold as one of her inspirations on her Facebook page.

Workman starts out as the favorite. He took almost 54 percent of the vote against Tidd in 2008 and more than 61 percent against her in 2010. But the overwhelming majority of House incumbents have not garnered any opponents yet (which makes sense with redistricting taking place in early 2012), while Workman has two.