Ryan Ray
Ft. Lauderdale Rep. George Moraitis and Rep. Carlos Trujillo of Miami made it official on Friday: the two South Florida Republican incumbents have filed to run for their seats again in 2016. The move allows them to open campaign accounts and signal their intentions to possible challengers.
Moraitis, the sole Republican member of the Broward delegation, won easily in November over Democrat Scott Herman 57-43. Trujillo also cruised to a third term last month, defeating Democrat Carlos Pereira by the same margin.
Trujillo is known for his combative style in debate while Moraitis has kept a somewhat lower profile in the House GOP caucus.
Neither legislator is slated to chair a committee during the 2015 and 2016 sessions. Both are expected to be re-elected for their fourth and final terms in 2016, though Moraitis’ coastal District 93 is more likely to attract a significant contender from the other party than Trujillo’s Miami-Dade-and-Collier-based District 105.
Moraitis’ seat was previously held by Miami’s Rep. Frank Artiles, who this week drew a challenger in Democrat Omar Rivero, who is seeking a rematch. Artiles dispatched Rivero 58-42 last month. If re-elected Artiles would term out in 2018 along with Trujillo and Moraitis.
