Peter Schorsch
As the deadline to qualify for the statewide ballot comes into focus, former state Senator Jeremy Ring has picked up the endorsement of a fellow Democrat occasionally mentioned as a possible primary opponent.
Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy signaled his support for Ring’s bid to be Chief Financial Officer, citing the former Yahoo executive’s “acuity.”
“From Yahoo to the Florida Senate, there is no other candidate with the extensive background and innovative hides he brings to the table,” Murphy said in a release. “That’s why I’m proud to support him.”
Murphy, the party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2016, has been mentioned as a possible CFO candidate, especially given his background in accounting and finance.
Murphy’s closing the door on a 2018 run is likely the last obstacle Ring will face to running all but unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Current CFO Jimmy Patronis is running for a full-term in the Cabinet post. He’s expected to be joined by state Senator Tom Lee in the Republican primary.
An early poll showed Ring with a slight lead over Patronis, 37-35, though that 2-point spread fell well within the 3.7 percentage point margin of error.
The chance to pick up a spot on the powerful Cabinet also played a role in Murphy’s decision to back Ring.
“After 20 years of Republican rule, Floridians are hungry for a fresh approach and I can think of no one better than Jeremy Ring to steer us forward.”
