Christine Jordan Sexton
Democrat Daryl Parks is easily defeating his opposition in the race for Senate District 3, and is positioned to battle incumbent Republican Sen. Corey Simon in November as the Democrats try to recapture control of the seat.
With about 59% of precincts reporting, Parks garnered 78% of the vote compared to Kimblin E. NeSmith, Chair of the Gadsden County Commission, who had 24.5%.
In a statement released to the media Tuesday night Parks said he was grateful for the community support and is ready to defeat Simon.
“Our campaign is well positioned for victory because voters are ready for change and a State Senator with the courage and experience to speak up for them and ensure they can keep more of the money they earn in their pockets,” Parks said.
“Corey Simon has failed the people by taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from insurance companies and their allies while housing and healthcare costs skyrocket across North Florida. He’s passed legislation to defund our public schools by $900 million and wants to prioritize culture wars ahead of the everyday needs of North Florida. We deserve better and I’m ready to put my lifetime of experience fighting and winning against special interests to work for every family in our district.”
Parks is a civil rights lawyer who, along with former partner Ben Crump, secured a $5 million settlement with the state for the family of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson, who died in a Panama City Juvenile boot camp after being beaten. The high-profile case led to the state shuttering all the boot camps under the umbrella of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Despite facing opposition in the Primary, Parks has directed most of his efforts to date on attacking Simon, a former NFL football player and Florida State University standout. Simon, a Republican, in 2022 defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Loranne Ausley.
SD 3 is the only Senate seat won by Biden by 2020 that is held by a Republican and is on this year’s ballot.
Simon was appointed CEO of Volunteer Florida by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2020. DeSantis later endorsed Simon in his run against Ausley.
Parks’ campaign commercials have shown Simon alongside DeSantis, and note that Simon has taken money from the insurance industry while supporting legislation that has yet to yield reductions in premiums.
Parks’ ads also accuse Simon of not supporting a woman’s right to abortion. But Simon was one of two Senate Republicans who voted against final passage of Florida’s ban on abortions after six weeks, and he did not vote for the ban when the bill was in committee.
Simon was not a member of the Senate when the Legislature approved the 15-week abortion ban.
Simon’s camp isn’t waiting until the General Election, meanwhile. His team has responded with their own set of ads firing back at Parks and criticizing him over comments he made in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd.
