Florida is gearing up for a series of Special Elections as state lawmakers resign to run for newly opened congressional seats. Special Elections are already scheduled for Florida’s 1st and 6th Congressional Districts, with party Primaries on Jan. 28 and a Special General Election on April 1. As lawmakers resign, additional Special Elections to fill their seats will be scheduled at a later date.
State Rep. Joel Rudman and state Sen. Randy Fine have already submitted their resignations to run for congressional seats, with Fine expected to resign on Tuesday. The process for setting Special Elections begins once lawmakers inform the House or Senate of their intentions to vacate seats, after which Gov. Ron DeSantis will call for an election and determine a timeline.
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis has also resigned to run for Congress, and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is rumored to resign for a position in the Biden administration. Replacement for these positions will be appointed by DeSantis according to Florida law.
The series of Special Elections in Florida highlights the domino effect of lawmakers resigning to pursue higher office, leading to a chain reaction of vacancies and new elections. With multiple seats up for grabs, the political landscape in Florida is set to undergo significant changes in the coming months.
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