FL-9: He's Baaaack?

Over the weekend it was reported that former US Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Orlando) may be looking toward making another political comeback.  Mr. Grayson was first elected to the House in 2008 but lost his seat in 2010 when now 11th District Congressman Dan Webster (R-Clermont) defeated him in the Republican wave election.  Grayson would return to the House in 2012 when Florida gained two seats in reapportionment and one of them was drawn as a new Orlando Democratic district. 
 
In 2016, the acerbic Congressman decided to run for what looked to be an open Senate seat.  Incumbent Marco Rubio (R), when running for President, indicated that he would not seek re-election regardless of the national election outcome, but the Republican leadership then persuaded him to change his mind.  In the meantime, Grayson would fall to fellow Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Jupiter) in the statewide Democratic primary.  State Sen. Darren Soto (D-Orlando) replaced Mr. Grayson in the House, despite the former man’s new wife, Dena Grayson, running for the vacated House district. 
 
Now, Mr. Grayson may challenge Rep. Soto.  When asked how he would fare as a challenger, Grayson answered that it is “he (Rep. Soto) who would be challenging me.”

--Jim Ellis