Orlando area Democratic state Representative Scott Randolph announced Tuesday he would not run for re-election this year to the state House, but instead will devote all his time and resources on working to ensure the re-election of both Barack Obama and Bill Nelson.
And he announced definitively that he is a candidate to replace Rod Smith as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party next January.
In a press release, Randolph said he made his decision in part due to redistricting, because he now would be running for re-election in a district in which 75 percent of the voters are people he hasn't represented before.
“I am proud of my legislative service. For six years, I fought back against a radical agenda that continues to shift the tax burden to the middle class, that has shrunk Florida’s commitment to spending on Florida’s students in public schools, and which has led an unrelenting attack on women and all of Florida’s families."
There will be other candidates in the race — including one Tampa Democrat.
This article appears in May 24-30, 2012.