A possible Democrat-friendly shift in the boundary of Florida's 13th Congressional district has Dems salivating at the prospect of picking up what was a pretty safe Republican seat ... until now-ish.
When news got around about the state Supreme Court decision requiring lawmakers to redraw certain Congressional districts, it seemed like good news for the Democrats and bad news for Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly, who was already mulling a Senate race in 2016 anyway and could announce a run for Marco Rubio's seat as early as next week.
So, if Jolly leaves to run for Senate, that leaves an open seat in what could be a Democratic-leaning district.
Eric Lynn was already in the race before all the Jolly Senate stuff started up a few months ago. But he could be joined/muscled out by none other than Charlie Crist, who, despite not having the most appeal statewide, is pretty popular in the district. (Even Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said he'd support a Congressional run for Crist. If you'll recall, Buckhorn ostensibly didn't support his run for governor in 2014 because Crist is a flip-flopper or something, but it maaay have had a bit to do with Buckhorn's own desire to shoot for the governor's mansion in 2018.)
Also potentially in the running are St. Pete Councilwoman Darden Rice, Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch and former Tampa Councilwoman Mary Mulhern, none of whom are exactly lightweights.
Easy as pie. Break out the Prosecco.
Jus' kidding.
Cue former St. Pete mayor Rick Baker, a Republican.
SaintPetersBlog is reporting the that he may be "examining" a run. Baker was said to be considering a run for the seat in the special election that followed the death of Congressman C.W. Bill Young, but ultimately opted not to face Alex Sink in the March 2014 election in which Jolly ultimately prevailed.
Of all the best-known Pinellas Republicans, Baker would be the most formidable. He was a popular mayor, even in predominantly African-American and Democratic South St. Pete, which could become part of CD-13 as part of the un-gerrymandering that's supposed to take place in Tallahassee in the next 95 days or so.
So, long story short, we could end up with Crist vs. Baker next year.
But they have to do their polling and wait on the new maps and stuff, so we won't really know for sure for a few months.
