Florida Dem won’t seek House reelection, floats run for governor

Rep. Gwen Graham (D-Fla.), who would have faced one of the toughest reelection fights of any House Democrat this cycle, announced Thursday she won’t seek another term following redistricting in her state.

Instead, Graham said in a video to supporters that she’s considering a run for Florida governor in 2018.

The freshman Democrat already had an uphill path to reelection in the GOP-leaning district, where she had toppled former Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) in 2014. But redistricting this year made the electorate even more favorable toward Republicans.

{mosads}”Our 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 the video.

“Public servants must focus on the job they’re elected to do, so I will spend the remainder of my term fully representing you in Congress, but I will not seek reelection while considering this next step of service.”

Graham, the daughter Bob Graham, a former Florida governor and senator, was one of the party’s top recruits in the 2014 election cycle. She offered one of the few highlights for Democrats on that election night, when she and Rep. Brad Ashford (D-Neb.) were the only two Democrats to unseat incumbent House Republicans.

On the trail, Graham had said she wouldn’t support House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for another term as Democratic leader. She instead voted for fellow centrist Blue Dog Coalition member Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) for Speaker at the start of the new Congress in January 2015 and again last October when the House replaced then-Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

Republican candidates for Florida governor are still emerging, but Graham could face Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Retiring Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said he would not run for governor after suspending his presidential campaign this year.