A surge of Democrats seeking local legislative offices and hoping for a "blue wave" in the 2018 election continued last week, led by Bob Buesing filing to run again versus state Sen. Dana Young, R-Tampa.
In addition:
• Heather Kenyon Stahl of Tampa has filed to run against Rep. Jamie Grant, R-Tampa, in a GOP-leaning district that includes northwest Hillsborough and northeast Pinellas counties.
• Kathy Lynn Lewis of Wesley Chapel has filed to run for the District 20 state Senate seat that Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, plans to vacate to run for chief financial officer. Lewis could face Rep. Shawn Harrison, R-Tampa, or Rep. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, both interested in moving to the Senate.
• A Democratic primary is possible for the House seat of Rep. Sean Shaw, D-Tampa, who announced last week he'll run for attorney general. Community and political activist Dianne Hart, who narrowly lost to Shaw in a 2016 primary, has filed, and Tampa attorney Fentrice Driskell is considering running.
Democrats see Young's District 18 as one of their top chances to flip a GOP Senate seat, and one they must hold to regain a Senate majority some day. The Tampa and northwest Hillsborough district is one of two on the 2018 ballot held by Republicans but won by Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Republicans, meanwhile, spent more than $5 million last year to win the seat and will fight tenaciously to hold it. The result is likely to be a marquee race with heavy outside spending.
Buesing lost to Young in 2016 by 7 points, with no-party candidate Joe Redner taking almost 10 points. Redner says he won't run again and has contributed to Buesing.
Stahl, 47, making her first run for office, is a sales trainer and former Tampa Bay Technology Forum CEO, who was recruited to run by Ruth's List and local Democrats.
"There are disturbing things happening in Washington and Tallahassee, and I felt compelled to run," she said. "I think it's extraordinarily important for there to be more women's voices in government."
Lewis, 56, a writer and motivational speaker who moved here with her physician husband in 2009 from Baltimore, has been active in non-profit work related to developmental disability. She's running in part because of problems in state assistance programs affecting her autistic daughter.
The district, where Polk, Pasco and Hillsborough counties meet, votes Republican despite a Democratic plurality. But Lewis said she's accustomed to raising money, and, "It's not unwinnable if we can get our vote out."
April Schiff, Jim Waurishuk seek GOP party chair
Two candidates are running to replace Deborah Tamargo as Hillsborough County Republican Party chairman - veteran political consultant and party activist April Schiff and retired Air Force officer and Trump stalwart Jim Waurishuk.
Tamargo resigned two weeks ago after party members filed a grievance against her, while vice chairman Jeff Lukens, a Tamargo ally, had previously resigned in protest.
Lukens was returned to his post in an election last week, and the election for chairman will be next month.
Both candidates said their first priority will be to heal divisiveness in the party.
But the race also symbolizes the party's split. Schiff is a comparative moderate from Tampa, while Waurishuk is an east Hillsborough Tea Party supporter. He was recruited to run for the post by Florida Trump backers including Rep. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, and Karen Giorno, Trump's Florida campaign director.
Schiff, who has held numerous party offices, said she hopes to "bring the party back to what it used to be - bigger, stronger and more successful ... We are in need of a great deal of sanity, civility and successes."
Waurishuk said he want to "make every effort to unite the party after the turmoil that's been going on, get our efforts going to support our candidates."
Tampa Democrats back Jennifer Webb in House
Just as they did in the St. Petersburg mayor's race, Tampa Democrats are working across the bay for St. Petersburg's state House District 69 candidate Jennifer Webb.
Tampa attorney Erin Aebel will host a Tampa fundraiser for Webb Jan. 31, with prominent Tampa Democrats including Betty Castor, Sam Bell, Ana Cruz, Alma Gonzalez and Alex Sink on the host list.
Webb, backed by numerous elected Pinellas Democrats, faces St. Petersburg attorney Javier Centonzio in a primary. Also running are Republicans Jeremy David Bailie and Raymond Blacklidge.
Contact William March at wemarch@gmail.com