With Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, facing term limits next year, a battle is shaping up among Republicans seeking to succeed him in a district that currently covers all of Nassau County and part of Nassau County. The district’s boundaries and potentially the number will change before the 2022 elections because of reapportionment. Byrd is in his third term in House District 11, which also includes Nassau and part of Duval counties. Rep. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, and Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, also have opened accounts to try to succeed Bean. Yarborough is in his third term in Duval’s House District 12, while Fischer is in his third term in Duval’s House District 16.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATEJoshua HicksParty affiliation: DemocraticAge: 36Candidates family: Phillip Perry (husband)Occupation: Platform Administrator with the Colorectal Cancer AllianceEducation: Graduate of Florida State University, Class of 2007, Double Major, Bachelor of Science degreePolitical experience: Yes. Been involved in the Leon County Democratic Party and now the Duval County Democratic Party, and has served as an intern and legislative page in the Florida House. In fact, policies enacted by my opponent in the Florida Legislature have actually made our current health and economic crisis worse. This is a public health and public safety issue and we must take this virus seriously. As we work to reopen Florida, we must do it with the publics best interests in mind.