Drew Wilson
With Jacksonville Democrat Reggie Fullwood filing for reelection in his District 13, each of the 120 Florida House seats now has a candidate in the 2016 cycle.
Fullwood’s late filing had become something of a trend.
Last cycle, the third-term representative missed the last call for candidates due to a paperwork error and, after unsuccessfully challenging the state’s decision, HD 13 was technically vacant before a February special election put him back into office.
Jacksonville Councilman Johnny Gaffney tried to seize on that opportunity and challenged Fullwood in the special Democratic Primary election in December 2014, though he was defeated after capturing just 36 percent of the vote in the two-way contest.
This time around, Fullwood likely won’t face any primary challengers and, with the Democrats’ overwhelming advantage in the district, the chances of a GOP takeover are nil.
Depending on how the law is interpreted, the 2014 paperwork error may have reset the clock on Fullwood’s 8-year limit and since he was elected in a special election the 2016 election will be for his first of a possible four more terms in HD 13. Fullwood has said he intends to honor the four-term limit, however, making it likely his last House campaign.
