In statewide races , DeSantis will not face a primary opponent , while U . S . Rep . Charlie Crist and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried will vie in the Democratic gubernatorial primary .
Meanwhile , state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and former Democratic House member Adam Hattersley of Hillsborough County will square off in November .
Also , Attorney General Ashley Moody awaits the winner of a three-way Democratic primary involving : Aramis Ayala , a former state attorney in Orange and Osceola counties ; Jim Lewis , a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer ; and Daniel Uhlfelder , a Northwest Florida lawyer who drew national attention for dressing as the Grim Reaper as he criticized DeSantis ’ handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Along with the race for governor , the other highest-profile race in the state is for a U . S . Senate seat held by Republican Marco Rubio . U . S . Rep . Val Demings is heavily favored to win a Democratic primary to face Rubio . in Central Florida ’ s Congressional District 10 includes state Sen . Randolph Bracy of Ocoee , former U . S . Rep . Alan Grayson and former U . S . Rep . Corrine Brown , who lost re-election in 2016 after facing criminal charges .
The contest in Central Florida ’ s Congressional District 7 is wide open after blue-dog Democrat Stephanie Murphy decided not to seek re-election . Four Democrats and eight Republicans are seeking the seat .
In a crowded field in Congressional District 15 , headliners include former Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee , state Sen . Kelli Stargel , R-Lakeland , and state Rep . Jackie Toledo , R-Tampa .
Meanwhile , in Miami-Dade County , state Sen . Annette Taddeo , D-Miami , is hoping to unseat freshman U . S . Rep . Maria Elvira Salazar , R-Fla ., in Congressional District 27 . Taddeo would have to first defeat Miami City Commissioner Ken Russell in the Democratic primary
Among notable clashes for U . S . House seats , the race in Congressional District 2 features U . S . Rep . Neal Dunn , a Panama City Republican , and U . S . Rep . Al Lawson , a Tallahassee Democrat . Lawson opted to run in District 2 after his current District 5 was redrawn in the redistricting process .
The Democratic primary to replace Demings
16 DITCHMEN • JUNE 2022