Qualifying deadline clears fields in Northeast Florida congressional primaries

Crowded Democratic primaries for Northeast Florida Congressional seats have been resolved after Friday’s action.

In Congressional District 5, a candidate has officially stepped aside.

Rontel Batie, a former Corrine Brown staffer, officially announced his withdrawal from the race Thursday.

“I’ve come to realize that the time for Florida to elect a young, African American progressive to Congress will not be in 2018,” Batie said.

Odds were not with him.

Incumbent Rep. Al Lawson has a strong base of support in Tallahassee. And former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown likely will have robust support in Jacksonville.

Batie’s withdrawal sets up a two person race; this is worth noting, as Lawson won the primary two years ago against Corrine Brown with a plurality of votes, due to a third candidate siphoning Jacksonville area votes.

Lawson won the three way primary with just over 47 percent of the vote, with Corrine Brown, who was under indictment and bereft of fundraising, coming in with 38 percent.

In Congressional District 4, Monica DePaul did not run at all. And Joceline Berrios, who teased a Democratic run, is now running an an NPA.

Ges Selmont gets the nod by default, though it’s uphill for him.

John Rutherford, a former three-term Jacksonville Sheriff, has $300,000 cash on hand and name identification to spare. Selmont, largely unknown, has $6,000 cash on hand, but loaned his own campaign more than that.