Thad Altman switches seats for his next election

In a handwritten note delivered earlier this month, state Sen. Thad Altman moved up his next run for office by two years.

Altman, a Rockledge Republican who is term limited in the Florida Senate next year, had originally filed to run for House District 51 in 2018.

On Dec. 1, Altman wrote, signed and sent a note to the Division of Elections asking to be re-designated for House District 52 next year. On Monday, the division acknowledged the request and updated the candidate database.

Altman couldn’t be reached at his Senate district office Monday morning.

District 51, held by term-limited House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, a Merritt Island Republican, is being sought next year by Republican Tim Tumulty and current state Rep. Tom Goodson, a Titusville Republican.

Goodson now has District 50, first elected in 2010. In April, he too asked to be redesignated from District 50 to District 51.

District 52 is now represented by state Rep. Ritch Workman, a Melbourne Republican and House Rules chairman. He also is term limited next year.

That seat is being sought by three other Republicans: Brian Hodgers, Monique Miller and Robert F. VanVolkenburgh.