Democrats across the nation are already licking their chops over the possibility of defeating Gov. Rick Scott next year -- but other statewide elected Republicans up for re-election in 2014 look safe for the moment.
While Scott edged out Democrat Alex Sink in the closest gubernatorial election in Florida history, the three other Republicans running for state Cabinet office blew out their Democratic opponents by double digits. After more than two years in office, CFO Jeff Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam are heavy favorites to win again come 2014.
Atwater has been the most active candidate for re-election though his name has surfaced from time to time as candidate for other offices. While Atwaters name generated some buzz as a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate last year, many political observers believe he is more focused on keeping the door open for a future gubernatorial campaign.
So far, Atwater has raised more than $90,000 for his 2014 re-election bid, including $10,600 raised in the first quarter of 2013. While his campaign has spent more than $14,000, Atwater has primarily relied on in-kind donations for his re-election efforts, spending almost $302,000 in in-kind donations as of March 31.
There are no Democrats currently running for state CFO. State Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, has received some buzz as a possible candidate though he appears more focused on running for the state Senate in 2016. Waldman has already filed with Florida Division of Elections to run for the Florida Senate in that election cycle.
In contrast to Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi has done little in terms of organizing her re-election campaign. She hasnt even filed with the state Division of Elections. Nonetheless, many political observers expect her to run for another term in 2014.
So far, no Democrats have filed to challenge Bondi. There has been some speculation that former state Sen. Dan Gelber, who Bondi beat in 2010, could run again but he is also a possible candidate for other offices, including a leading possibility to end up as lieutenant governor on the 2014 Democratic ticket if they nominate former Gov. Charlie Crist. House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, is also a possible candidate to take on Bondi but, like Waldman, seems to have his eyes on the state Senate instead. Thurston has already filed to run for the Florida Senate in 2016.Conservatives praised Putnam for attacking Scotts decision to accept federal dollars as part of the Medicaid expansion mandated by President Barack Obamas health care law. This even led conservative supporters to set up a website to draft Putnam to challenge Scott in the 2014 primaries.
While Putnam, like Atwater, is considered a possible gubernatorial candidate down the road, he has shown no interest in challenging Scott in 2014. Instead, on Monday, he filed to run again for agriculture commissioner.
Unlike Atwater and Bondi, Putnam has already drawn a Democratic opponent -- Thad Hamilton, who served on the Broward Soil and Water Conservation District board of supervisors. Hamilton, who served in the Army and retired as a lieutenant colonel, has an impressive background, having grown up on a farm and studied agriculture at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He worked for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 36 years, including stints in New Mexico, and Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
But while he has a solid resume, Hamilton had little luck in 2010 when he sought the Democratic agricultural nomination, not even making the ballot to oppose Scott Maddox who went on to lose to Putnam in November. Nor is Hamilton making much progress so far in the 2014 election cycle. Since entering the race in late February, he raised nothing, loaned his campaign $170 and spent $70 of that.
While the Democrats will eventually recruit candidates to challenge the Republican incumbents, so far --unlike Scott --Atwater, Bondi and Putnam should expect smooth sailing in 2014.
Tallahassee political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis piece exclusively for Sunshine State News.
