Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson is contemplating a Senate run
Outspoken Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson represents a safe Orlando-area district, but it seems he has bigger things in mind. Scott Powers of the
Orlando Sentinel reports that Grayson is
talking about running for U.S. Senate, where Republican incumbent Marco Rubio looks likely to give up his seat in order to run for president.
Grayson says he's waiting to see how the Democratic field develops and is in no hurry to make up his mind. He doesn't sound particularly afraid of his potential primary rivals ... with one exception. Grayson told the Sentinel, "I think that we'd be able to put together a very interesting and effective campaign. I think it would be likely that I get the Democratic nomination, unless Debbie Wasserman Schultz decides to run, which is certainly possible—in fact, likely." Still, Grayson sounds interested in going for it, even if he needs to get through Rubio.
Wasserman Schultz, who represents a South Florida House seat and currently leads the DNC, has been mentioned as a potential candidate and didn't shut the door on running. She only said, "My only focus right now is serving the people of Florida's 23rd district in Congress and electing a Democrat as the 45th president of the United States in 2016."
Plenty of other Democrats are eying this seat, especially if Rubio bails. Rep. Patrick Murphy has publicly expressed interest in a promotion, and plenty of national Democrats would love to see him as their nominee. However, Murphy's reputation as a centralist could be a double-edged sword for him. It helped him easily hold his light red House seat during the 2014 GOP wave, but it could play poorly with primary voters against someone like Grayson.
Grayson may have the opposite issue: He's beloved by many party activists but his very aggressive style could hurt him among swing voters. But one thing's for sure: Neither Grayson, Murphy, nor Wasserman Schultz would have any problem raising cash. Some other potential Democratic candidates include Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn; Rep. Ted Deutch; Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; state Sen. and 2010 attorney general nominee Dan Gelber; Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum; and Rep. Gwen Graham.
There is no shortage of Republicans who could run to succeed Rubio. Attorney General Pam Bondi is likely to run for the Senate or governorship soon, and her campaign consultant didn't rule out a Senate bid. Rubio himself named former state House Speaker Will Weatherford and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera as possible candidates.
Other possibilities include Rep. Vern Buchanan; state Sen. Anitere Flores; Rep. John Mica; Rep. Jeff Miller; and former Rep. Allen West. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam could also go for it, but the Sentinel says they're focusing on the 2018 gubernatorial race, when Gov. Rick Scott will be termed-out. Rubio's camp says he's only weeks away from deciding on a presidential bid, and a lot of dominoes will fall no matter what he does.