Jacob Ogles
Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis has submitted her formal resignation so she can run to replace the late Sen. Geraldine Thompson.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the State Representative for Florida’s House District 40,” Bracy Davis wrote in a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis. “Since my first day in office, I have worked tirelessly on behalf of the residents of our district — fighting for quality education, economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and protecting the right to vote.”
DeSantis earlier this week called a Special Election to replace Thompson in Senate District 15 after she unexpectedly died in February. A Special Primary was scheduled for June 24, with the Special Election set for Sept. 2 to decide who succeeds Thompson.
Bracy Davis’ resignation is effective Sept. 1, a day before the final vote in SD 15. Florida law requires her to resign to run for the office. State law says the irrevocable resignation must be submitted 10 days before qualification begins. The Governor set a qualifying period from April 21 to April 23 at noon, meaning any contender who currently holds a public office must submit their resignation no later than today.
Bracy Davis’ exit means a vacancy will soon open up in House District 40, where she has served since her election to the House in 2022. She made clear last month that she would run for Thompson’s seat as soon as the election was called.
Asked if she wants to see a Special Election to fill her House seat held concurrent with the Senate Special Election, she noted that the decision lies elsewhere, with DeSantis.
“Not up to me,” she told Florida Politics. “But I think for efficiency and fiscal responsibility purposes overlapping SD 15 General with HD 40 Primary would be ideal.”
Other candidates have already filed for the SD 15 Special Election. Personal injury lawyer Coretta Anthony-Smith filed as a Democrat. Willie Montague, founder of faith-based rehab nonprofit House of Timothy, filed as a Republican.
Former Sen. Randolph Bracy, a Democrat who preceded Thompson in the Senate, has also filed for the seat. He is Bracy Davis’ brother, setting up a potential family feud in the June Democratic Primary.
