Democrats are taking a pass this year on two state House districts and one in the Senate that with their current makeup would have been won by President Obama in 2008, according to state redistricting statistics.
The Florida Democratic Party failed to field a candidate for House District 36 in the Pasco County area and District 83 along the Treasure Coast, with no Democrats filing to run in those districts by the end of qualifying Friday.
The majority of voters in both of those districts voted for Obama. Three Republicans will square off to see who will represent District 36. Current state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, is likely the favorite, with two other Republicans, Michael Kennedy and James Mathieu, also having qualified for the Aug. 14 primary.
In District 83, which includes Stuart, Port St. Lucie, and Jensen Beach, Republican incumbent Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, drew no opponent other than a write-in qualifier. Write-in candidates aren’t actually on the ballot.
Similarly, in Senate District 22, in the Tampa Bay area, Republican House members Jeff Brandes and Jim Frishe will square off in the Aug. 14 primary with the winner headed to the Senate. That district also was won by Obama.
Democrats also failed to field candidates in 13 House districts and one Senate district where at least 45 percent of voters chose Obama in 2008.
