JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dozens of legislative candidates began qualifying Monday for this year’s elections in which 21 Senate seats and all 120 House seats could draw contests. Candidates are also signing up for many county races, including sheriff, county commission, school board and other local offices.
Among the higher-profile races in Northeast Florida that will be the sheriff’s race in Clay County, where several people are expected to challenge incumbent Darryl Daniels, and St. Johns County, where Sheriff David Shoar is not seeking re-election after five terms in office.
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The formal qualifying period began at noon Monday and will continue until noon Friday.
Qualifying was held earlier this year for congressional races.
Democrats remain a minority in the State Legislature, but are hoping moderate gains can help level the partisan playing field.
A dropbox replaced the traditional parade of candidates waiting to qualify.
It didn’t stop Rodney Long from Gainesville coming to make sure his paperwork to run for a State House seat got delivered in person.
“So my stamp of approval would be that I personally brought it up here, and I put in the box, so I know it got here,” said Long.
Long shot GOP State Senate candidate Benjamin Horbowy arrived doing his own Facebook live announcement.
“We have to do what no man has ever done before,” said Horbowy.
For the first time since Democrats lost control of the State Legislature in the mid 1990s, a Democrat has filed to run in each and every one of the state’s 120 House seats.
But GOP consultant Brett Doster doesn’t think it will matter.
“It depends on the district, and it depends on the candidate, but the reality is I think the GOP is still in a very good position to hold the State House,” said Doster.
Democratic data cruncher Matt Isbell thinks running someone in every House seat could help turnout and Joe Biden.
“It will give them another reason to come out and will help make them more engaged. Especially as the statewide campaign for President can only be in so many parts of the state at once. It helps kind of operate as a surrogate campaign,” said Isbell.
But Isbell said the State Senate is more important, where Dems are just three seats short of a tie.
“If they can get to 20 and tie, it will very important issue for redistricting coming up,” said Isbell.
The outcome of the Senate races will likely determine which party controls the Legislature into the 2030’s.