Dozens of candidates formally stepped into races for state offices across Florida on Monday, but the most closely watched possible campaigner remained silent about his plans.
The first day of qualifying ended without any definitive word from U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio about whether he would seek re-election. Rubio, who lost the Republican presidential primary in Florida as real estate mogul Donald Trump romped to the GOP nomination, had previously ruled out a second term but has faced widespread speculation about a possible re-election bid as this week's qualifying period neared.
Three of his would-be opponents have already qualified, with businessmen Carlos Beruff and Todd Wilcox officially stepping into the race on the GOP side and Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy adding his name to the list. Republican Congressman David Jolly announced Friday he will leave the Senate race to seek another term in the U.S. House, but fellow GOP Congressman Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez Cantera --- a close friend of Rubio's --- appear to be waiting on the incumbent's decision.
Candidates have until noon Friday to qualify.
Murphy is expected to face Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson in their party's primary, but Grayson did not qualify Monday, according to the website of the Florida Division of Elections. A handful of other lower-profile candidates, including colorful Libertarian contender Augustus Invictus, did.
In the jumbled congressional picture --- which could face the fallout of Rubio's decision --- some high-profile names were already getting into position. State Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, was among five Republicans and one Democrat who filed in Congressional District 1, which could see as many as seven additional names added. State Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, is expected to qualify but didn'tMonday.
In Congressional District 2, set to see one of the more heated Republican primaries across the state, surgeon and businessman Neal Dunn of Panama City and Tallahassee attorney Mary Thomas qualified on Monday, as did Democratic candidate Steve Crapps.
Former Gov. Charlie Crist, who will face Jolly in the general election in Pinellas County's Congressional District 13, qualified Monday. So did Tim Canova, an upstart primary challenger for Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who chairs the Democratic National Committee. Canova got the endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, whose campaign has suggested that DNC officials favored former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, now the party's presumptive nominee. Wasserman Schultz also qualified in Congressional District 23.
Incumbent members of Congress qualifying on Monday included Republican Ted Yoho, Democrat Corrine Brown, Republican John Mica, Republican Bill Posey, Republican Dan Webster (who is switching districts), Democrat Kathy Castor, Republican Dennis Ross, Republican Vern Buchanan, Republican Tom Rooney, Democrat Ted Deutch, Republican Mario Diaz-Balart, Republican Carlos Curbelo and Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Also, some former state lawmakers formalized their comeback attempts.
Former state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, was one of two candidates to file in Senate District 11, along with Apopka Democrat Bob Sindler. Meanwhile, former Democratic Rep. Mike Clelland qualified in Senate District 13, along with Republican Dean Asher and Democrat Rick Roach. Former House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Lauderhill, filed in Senate District 33, as did Republican opponent Antoaneta Iotova. Former Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, filed in Senate District 34, along with current Rep. Gwyn Clarke-Reed, D-Deerfield Beach.
Former Rep. Ricardo Rangel, D-Kissimmee, qualified for a rematch in House District 43 against incumbent Rep. John Cortes, D-Kissimmee, who also filed qualifying paperwork Monday. Another notable name in the House is Katherine Van Zant, the wife of outgoing state Rep. Charles Van Zant, a Keystone Heights Republican who is being forced out by term limits. She qualified in House District 19, as did Palatka Republican Bobby Payne.
