With the Florida Supreme Court ordering the Legislature to redistrict her current congressional seat, U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., could soon be facing more than one major Republican opponent.
Graham, the daughter of former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., was a rare bright spot for Democrats last year when she beat U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., making her one of only two members of her party to beat a Republican opponent. There has already been considerable buzz about Graham making a run for higher office with most speculation focused on a possible U.S. Senate bid in 2018 if U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. retires.
Pointing to her narrow win over Southerland, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has been active against Graham, launching attacks against the congresswoman and having key staff visit Tallahassee in recent weeks.
Republicans are fielding their first candidate against Graham later this week when Tallahassee attorney Mary Thomas launches her bid on Wednesday. Having worked in Gov. Rick Scott’s administration as the general counsel at the Department of Elder Affairs, Thomas is active with the Federalist Society, a conservative group of attorneys.
Thomas’ team played up her right-of-center credentials and her diverse background on Monday, promoting her as a “strong conservative Republican" and noting “if elected, Mary would make history as the first Indian-American woman ever elected to Congress.” The Thomas team has set up a website and social media accounts as they prepare to enter the race.
But Southerland could also be looking at making a return to Washington. Despite insisting earlier this year that he would not run again in 2016, Saint Petersblog reported on Monday that the former congressman has left the door open to running again.
There are other possible Republican primary candidates in the mix including Neal Dunn, a Republican activist and doctor based in Panama City, and Tallahassee attorney Pete Williams who ran for state attorney in 2012, though he is more likely to run again for that office instead of Congress in 2016.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
