Alan Grayson qualifies for U.S. Senate, adding to Democratic Primary field

The return of Alan Grayson. Again.

It looks like former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson will follow through and run for Senate.

The Orlando Democrat has paid a qualifying fee to appear on the ballot to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

The move adds one more prominent name to the Democratic Primary ballot. Grayson qualified the same day as former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel Powell — who is running with the support of President Joe Biden — and days after aerospace businessman Stanley Campbell made the ballot. Former state House candidate Rod Joseph and former state House Majority Whip Brian Rush have also qualified.

Grayson first filed to run for Senate this election cycle last June. But since the former Congressman never formally launched a campaign or promoted his candidacy on social media, many wondered if a bid would materialize this year or if he maintained candidacy primarily to raise money and pay down debt.

Federal Election Commission records show that as of the end of March, Grayson still had about $333,000 in candidate loans predating this election cycle.

His social media still lists him simply as a former Congressman and author of the book “High Crimes: The Impeachment of Donald Trump.” He has made no mention of his Senate candidacy on his X or Facebook.

Still, he’s a high-profile name that will now appear on the Democratic Primary ballot for U.S. Senate. Once a national darling of progressives, Grayson served two stints in the U.S House representing Central Florida. He served a term from 2009 to 2011 after defeating Republican U.S. Rep. Ric Keller before his own ouster by Republican U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster. He later won a more solidly Democratic district and served from 2013 to 2017.

Instead of seeking re-election in 2016, he ran for U.S. Senate that year but lost to then-U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy in the Democratic Primary.

Last election cycle, he explored a bid for U.S. Senate again but ultimately ran for U.S. House, losing in the Democratic Primary to now-U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost.