Democratic members protested on the floor of the Florida House ahead of a final vote on new congressional maps.
Republicans moved ahead with the vote anyway, passing the maps 68-38.
The new map leaves Duval County with two Republican-leaning seats and dismantles the minority access district CD 5, which runs from Tallahassee to Jacksonville’s urban core.
After the maps were passed the mayor finally weighed in on his future political plans.
We’d been in a game of cat and mouse with Mayor Lenny Curry for the past two weeks, attempting to ask him about a potential congressional run.
He’s dodged us in getaway cars, through curtains, and even skipped out on scheduled events.
On Wednesday, Congressman Al Lawson (D-FL CD 5) suggested Duval’s soon-to-be CD 4 was specifically drawn so the mayor could run.
Lawson stood by the statement Thursday morning.
“How much truth there is in it, you know there are a lot of rumors and so forth out there, but he is not really denying that he’s gonna run in this particular district,” said Lawson.
But just hours later, Curry put the rumors to an end, tweeting, “After some time to reflect, I will continue to serve Jax as Mayor until the end of my second term.”
It leaves open the question of who will run for the new Republican-leaning CD 4.
Congressman Lawson, a Democrat residing in Tallahassee, will soon find himself cut off from Jacksonville’s urban core now that the legislature has approved the map put forth by the governor.
“They have been derelict in their constitutional responsibility. You know and so, now they’re just rubber-stamping the Governor,” said Lawson.
Names floated so far for possible Republican candidates include State Representatives Jason Fisher and Cord Byrd, Councilman Rory Diamond, and even Sheriff Mike Williams.
The new district also creates a potential opening for former Fleming Island State Senator Rob Bradley, who recently noted on Twitter that Clay County has the largest share of voters in the new district.
“The narrative that it’s a Jax and Duval seat is incorrect,” said Bradley in the tweet.
As for a Democratic challenger?
Well, Lawson is still mulling over his options.
“I might just move into Jacksonville and run,” said Lawson.
We won’t officially know everyone who is in the running until the qualifying period ends on June 17.
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