Joe Geller will not join SD 38 race vacated by Gwen Margolis

Joe Geller said scheduling the DEC Chair election on Friday night, regardless of whether there's a holiday or not, is "inconvenient as hell." Image via Florida Politics.

Rep. Joe Geller announced Wednesday he will not run for the state Senate in Miami-Dade County-based Senate District 38. He was exploring a run for the safe Democratic seat.

The announcement comes after Sen. Gwen Margolis declared she would not run for the seat, bringing her 2016 plans to an abrupt end.

“While serving in the Senate would certainly be a new challenge, particularly given the district itself, I will not be a candidate for Senate District 38,” said Geller in a statement.

“I am honored to serve the people of House District 100 as their Representative, and I am fully committed to seeking re-election to that position. I have a lot left to do as a member of the House, and I am dedicated to the ambitious agenda I have pursued for justice, equality, fairness, safety and prosperity,” said Geller.

He gestured toward the retirement of the “legendary” Margolis — who recently dropped her bid for the seat amid fallout from a disparaging comment she made about her opponents — as the impetus for his announcement.

Miami Rep. Daphne Campbell and self-funder Jason Pizzo are among the five candidates currently squaring off to replace Margolis in a Democratic primary.

Miami Beach Rep. David Richardson also announced this week he would take a pass on a Senate run in SD 38.

Geller’s safe Democratic seat consists mostly of Aventura, a large suburban city north of North Miami Beach.