Field set for HD 40 race, with familiar faces aiming to succeed LaVon Bracy Davis

The field is set for a Special Election in House District 40.

Former Democratic state Rep. Travaris McCurdy and former legislative aide RaShon Young will compete in a June 24 Democratic Primary.

The winner will advance to a Sept. 2 Special General Election against Tuan Le, a Republican who last election ran for Congress in a district represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost. A write-in candidate, Chris Lynn Hall, also qualified for the September election.

The presence of General Election candidates means the June 24 Democratic Primary will be closed. That means only registered Democrats can vote in the Primary.

In the deep blue district, that Primary was always the race to watch for who will succeed outgoing state Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, an Orlando Democrat running for Senate District 15. In November, about 67% of voters in the district supported Democrat Kamala Harris for President, while less than 32% supported Republican Donald Trump, according to MCI Maps.

Young was the first candidate to file in the race. Until putting his paperwork in on Friday, he served as Bracy Davis’ Chief of Staff. He told Florida Politics he has long aspired to succeed his boss in holding the office whenever she moved onto another office or pursuit.

“I’ve had a front-row seat to The Process,” he said.

“I’ve helped draft the bills. I’ve worked with our community leaders, our advocacy groups and other offices in the process. It’s given me an opportunity to see the inner workings of Tallahassee. Every time the Representative has gone to an event, I’ve been with her. Every time that she’s had a meeting in Tallahassee or in-District, I’ve been in the room. The seat has been provided for me at the table, and now I’m ready to shift where I sit.”

McCurdy filed for the seat Tuesday. He served a term in the House after winning election in 2020, but lost re-election in House District 41 to now-state Rep. Bruce Antone. He told Florida Politics he’s ready to return to public service, now with his life grounded as ever with a new wife and family and living in House District 40.

“I am looking to go back to finish what I started, not just as a former member, but finish the work that I’ve started as a former aide,” McCurdy told Florida Politics. “With over a decade of experience in this process, I think it’s very beneficial, myself, as a resident in this district, that we have somebody that can speak to the issues, that knows the residents, and that also has an understanding of the work ahead.”

Le has worked as an aerospace engineer, water and wastewater engineer, and IT and cyber security analyst. He grew up in Pine Hills and graduated from Evans High School before earning a college degree at the University of Central Florida.

Last year, he ran on reducing crime rates and improving the quality of education in Florida’s urban areas in Frost’s heavily democratic district. Le lost in a Republican Primary to Willie Montague, who notably is running in the Special Election for SD 15. That election runs concurrent with the HD 40 election.

Hall lives in Tallahassee but lived as a child in Orange County, he told Florida Politics. Notably, he works in security at the R.A. Gray building near the Florida Capitol. Speaking from the Lauren’s Kids Walk in my Shoes event, the son of a teacher said his top concern is retaining professional educators in Florida.

“Teachers, who went to school to actually be a positive role model for kids their whole lives, are quitting,” he said. “They achieved master’s and other degrees for this but they don’t have support and are butting heads with administration.”