Republicans start lining up for 2018 state primaries, challenges

Republicans start lining up for 2018 state primaries, challenges
  • Sumo

A number of Florida House seats in the 305 will be vacated by term-limited legislators next year — and already there election2018are a bunch of wannabes getting in line to replace ’em.

David Rivera jumped into the race for District 105 last week, which would pit him against Doral Councilwoman Ana Maria Rodriguez, who filed her campaign paperwork in December for the seat vacated by State Rep. Carlos Trujillo.

But that’s not the only GOP primary already shaping up for 2018. There are three others.

Read related story: If at first you don’t succeed… David Rivera tries again

In District 119, where State Rep. Jeanette Nunez serves now, Republicans Enrique Lopez and Andrew Vargas have already opened up campaign accounts. Lopez has loaned himself $50,000 and raised another $33,240 in February alone. Vargas just filed last month so he has nothing to report. Ladra hears that Commissioner Joe Martinez‘s daughter may also consider a run there.

In District 116, where Rep. Jose Felix Diaz is getting a time-out, Republicans Jose Mallea and Daniel Anthony Perez have also made their intentions clear. Neither has raised any money yet.

tally305vips
Say buh-bye: In this picture, only Rep. Jose Oliva (top, left) is not termed out.

There are three Republicans already raising money for a campaign in District 115, where Rep. Michael Bileca will be termed out: Vance Aloupis, Carlos Gobel and Carmen Sotomayor. Only Sotomayor has reported raising any money, and its $100 at that, having filed in January. Both Alupis and Gobel filed last month and have not had to file any campaign reports yet.

Each of these are already Republican seats and it’s curious that no Democrats have yet shown their faces, especially in 105 and 115, both of which are seats where Obama did well.

Instead, we have Republicans dominating the early game, with two GOP challengers filing against two of the three newly-minted, freshman Democrats. Jose Pazos, who abandoned his campaign last year due to his father’s health, is going against Rep. Daisy Baez in 114 and Rosy Palomino, who lost last year against Nicholas Duran in 112 (53-47%), wants a rematch.

You just know someone is going to file against the other freshman Dem, State Rep. Robert Asencio in 118. Give it another month or two.

6 Responses to "Republicans start lining up for 2018 state primaries, challenges"

  1. Long time reader of the blog. Have previously appreciated your attention to details and commitment to trying to tell it how you see it.

    Looked up the numbers because they caught my eye. Your figures for District 119 are incorrect. You switched the fundraising numbers between Lopez and Vargas. Vargas is the one who raised $33,240 in February. You might consider correcting your article for the people you’ve misinformed.

    For those who want to look at the accurate numbers: http://dos.elections.myflorida.com/candidates/CanList.asp

  2. It will be interesting to see who’s endorsements Analeen Martinez, Enrique Lopez and Andrew Vargas. If Analeen runs she will have my vote. Not only has she grown up in the district, she also has experienced what it takes to be a public servant. Now its time for her become known for herself and not Joe Martinez’s daughter.

  3. David jumping in 105, makes a clear chance for Anthony Rodriguez who has a very good chance against Asencio. Anthony almost beat David in the primaries. Hope he does Jump in

  4. It would make sense that Joe’s daughter runs.The district does fall fully under her fathers district.She’s always been active in the community and in her fathers events, but has gone more public since she ran for REC Committee Woman and won.

  5. No secret 118 is going back to a Republican and it’s going to be Anthony Rodriguez

  6. At this point its obvious to know who will run in District 118. Take a look at that District and its history. In less than 10 minutes you can come up with at least 5 names of potential candidates. I trust Elaine, that it will be at least one or more of those 5 names you can think of.

    95% of the time, finding out who is the next hopeful is hardly a surprised. CONTEXT CLUES will give you the answer. Studying individuals in political circles endorses this notion. Separate these characters into 2 categories; “Activists” & “Politicians”. Focus on the “politicians”. “Politicians” can be past, present, or future.

    The amount of ambition, tenacity, and focus in their communication leaves a trail of CONTEXT CLUES, shown in the delivery and tone of their words. As a “Blogger” and a political inquisitor, I’d expect this to be elementary to you.

    Now, I and sure several others know who it is. CONTEXT CLUES + The hopeful telling us, later = OBVIOUSLY

    Will I say who? No. Will I gain anything from doing so? No. Will I lose anything? Yes. Do I have their permission to share? No. Did I for their permission? No. I’m not going to show a lack of consideration towards that hopeful. Let them be the ones to say.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.