The Florida congressional landscape is set to radically change after the November elections. Between redistricting, some unexpected retirements and two representatives running for the U.S. Senate, almost half of the Sunshine State’s 27 congressional seats are in play in the primaries or the general election. With that many seats up for grabs, Florida can expect some differences in how it's represented starting in 2017.
There are competitive congressional primaries and general elections shaping up in South Florida. Here's a look at where some of the congressional races in that part of the state stand after qualifying ended on Friday:
CD 19: With Curt Clawson’s unexpected retirement from Congress, Republicans are scrambling to replace him in this secure GOP district. Businessman and GOP fundraising powerhouse Frances Rooney, who served as ambassador to the Vatican, has opened up his wallet and is already on the airwaves. Chauncey Goss is also running hard following his loss to Trey Radel here in the GOP primary back in 2012. After moving from Maryland following a Senate loss in 2012 and a congressional loss in 2014, Dan Bongino hopes to get conservatives behind him even as he familiarizes himself with his new district. While abbreviated, this will be an interesting primary and whoever wins it will be a heavy favorite in November over Democrat Robert Neeld and write in candidates David Byron and Timothy Rossano.
CD 20: Democrat Alcee Hastings has an easy assignment this November. The longtime congressman faces Republican Gary Stein, a businessman who has run for office before without much in the way of success. Attorney Michael Steinberg is in the mix as a write in candidate. Hastings represents a very blue district and won’t have much to worry about this time out. He’s safe.
CD 21: Lois Frankel and Ted Deutch switched districts after the Legislature drew up new maps but neither Florida Democrat has a heavy load this election cycle. Frankel is running against Republican businessman Paul Spain who she beat by 16 percent two years ago, a pretty good election cycle for the GOP. Spain’s back for a rematch but it’s telling that he tried to run up north in CD 18 before turning his eyes back to a rematch with Frankel. Mike Trout is running for Congress for a third time with no party affiliation. Frankel might not be as secure as Deutch but she should prevail with ease.
CD 22: Deutch has built an impressive winning streak in South Florida over the years and things don’t look any different this time out. Republican Andrea Leigh McGee, an artist who ran for Congress before, will face Deutch in November but the incumbent congressman has little to fear from her. This heavily Democratic district will remain blue.
CD 23: Tim Canova is the real deal as he challenges Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the Democratic primary. Canova has tapped into liberal discontent with Wasserman Schultz, especially after she slammed the door on Bernie Sanders getting more debates against her old ally Hillary Clinton. To be sure, Canova, who just opened his fourth field office, is well funded at the national level, has an admirable ground game and is positioned to give Wasserman Schultz a run. But Wasserman Schultz has remained popular with Democrats back home and does have the advantage, slight as it is. Two other Democrats had been in the race but didn’t qualify. That helps Canova by ensuring the anti-Wasserman Schultz vote won’t be divided. Republicans would love to pick up this seat but it’s simply not happening. Joe Kaufman is back for a third run for Congress. After getting blown out by Joe Geller in 2014, a good year for the GOP, attorney Marty Feigenbaum is also running for the Republican nomination. It’s tough to see either one of the Republicans making a competitive run even if whoever emerges on the Democratic side is left bloody after a bitter primary. Businessman Don Endress and educator and businessman Lyle Milstein are running with no party affiliation.
CD 24: Frederica Wilson doesn’t have a Republican opponent but she does face Randal Hill in the Democratic primary. Hill has an interesting story having played wide receiver at the University of Miami, being taken by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the NFL draft and playing pro ball for a few years before going into law enforcement. Now Hill is challenging Wilson in the Democratic primary. But Wilson’s been a proven winner in this part of South Florida for years and should be able to fend off Hill in the primary. Whoever wins the primary is headed to Congress.
CD 25: Republican Mario Diaz-Balart faces Democrat Alina Valdes, a doctor and educator, in November. Neither of them will have primaries in August. Diaz-Balart should be able to extend his time in Congress but Valdes, who hasn't had much help from the Democrats, is not a bad candidate, a real fighter as Dems play a long game in South Florida, hoping to reel in Cuban-Americans who have traditionally backed the GOP. Even with his vocal displeasure about Donald Trump, especially on immigration, Diaz-Balart should be able to fend off Valdes.
CD 26: Democrats had been drooling over picking up this seat as Republican Carlos Curbelo faces a far more hostile race after the latest redistricting effort -- but things are changing. For his part, Curbelo has tried to claim the center and has been one of Trump’s loudest Republican critics. Curbelo has also been helped inadvertently by the Democrats. Annette Taddeo continues to underwhelm even as the Democratic establishment tried to coronate her. Taddeo has had numerous problems, the most recent her failed effort to make the ballot by petition. Despite losing to Curbelo two years ago, former Congressman Joe Garcia has put together a solid effort so far and will give Taddeo problems in the primary. Maybe more than she can handle. Democrats are still favored here but any hopes of Taddeo marching easily into this seat have evaporated. One thing helping Curbelo could be Marco Rubio running for a second term. Rubio remains popular in Miami Dade -- the only county where he beat Trump in March’s presidential primary -- and that could help boost Curbelo. Dark horse Jose Peixoto is challenging Curbelo in the Republican primary but he has had no luck in running for office before and things don’t appear to be different this time out.
CD 27: Democrats are putting a few chips in this South Florida district, hoping they pay dividends in the years to come. They don’t expect to beat longtime Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen but they do want to start moving this district their way in the hopes of picking up this seat when she retires. Ros-Lehtinen has the advantage over Maria Peiro and David “Tubbs” Adams in the Republican primary. Businessman Scott Fuhrman, businessman and retired Army officer Frank Perez and attorney Adam Sackrin have lined up on the Democratic side. To be sure the district is changing but Ros-Lehtinen should have a clear edge over whoever emerges with the Democratic nomination.
