U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham announces potential run for Florida governor

[csziggy]

Highlights

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham won’t seek re-election after redistricting

The Tallahassee Democrat is considering a bid for governor in 2018

She is the daughter of former governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham


By Amy Sherman and Mary Ellen Klas
April 21, 2016 12:10 PM

U.S. Rep Gwen Graham put an end to speculation Thursday and announced that she won't seek reelection to Congress but is considering seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018.

Graham of Tallahassee, who is in her first term in Congress, faced a tough reelection after her district was reconfigured to be less favorable for Democrats under a court-ordered redistricting plan.

"State government is just dysfunctional and this causes me to rethink how I can best serve the people of North Florida and our state. Floridians are hungry for new leadership and I’m so excited to tell you first I’m seriously considering running for governor in 2018," Graham said in a news release and video. She said the new map divided her district into "two partisan districts" and she promises to bring "common sense back to Tallahassee."

Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, is term-limited so he can't run for reelection. Republicans considering the 2018 race include Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose political action committee raised more than $4 million in one year. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has also been rumored to be considering seeking the nomination, although he denied that a couple days after he lost the Florida presidential primary.

More: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article73065412.html

The way the new redistricting plan has diced up the bluest county in her district I don't blame her for thinking about running for a different office. The redistricting means that there is a good chance the Panhandle of Florida will have another Tea Party idiot as stupid as Steve Southerland was, though since most of Leon County is in that district so maybe they can get someone sane in there.

[djean111]

1. DINO, through and through. Along with DWS, Patrick Murphy, Bill Nelson -

just to name a few of the New Democrat Coalition.

Kind of horrifically interesting - I feel as if I am seeing what used to be the Democratic Party fading away. Not going along for the right-wing Third Way ride, that's for sure.