ORLANDO, Fla. – Four Democrats and one Republican will vie to represent part of Orange County in the Florida Senate in a special election later this year.
Candidate qualifying ended Wednesday for the Florida Senate District 15 election. The five candidates will try to fill the seat now vacant because of the death of State Sen. Geraldine Thompson.
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Florida Senate District 15 covers all of northwest Orange County down to State Road 408 in Ocoee, and then extends further south to Sand Lake Road. It includes part of Winter Garden, Oakland, Pine Hills, Metrowest, College Park, Parramore, Holden Heights, and the Oak Ridge area.
A special primary election on June 24 will determine which of the Democratic candidates will run against Republican Willie J. Montague, a nonprofit founder and community advocate, in the special general election, which is set for Sept. 2.
The Democratic candidates are:
Former State Sen. Randolph Bracy, who lost to Thompson in the 2024 election. Bracy is a business owner and brother to LaVon Bracy Davis.
State Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, who represents Florida House District 40. Davis is an attorney who worked for the Florida Department of Children and Families and is an advocate for arts and cultural programs. Davis is Randolph Bracy’s sister.
Former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, who has campaigned in several elections recently. Grayson left Congress to try and run for the U.S. Senate in 2016.
Coretta Anthony-Smith, an attorney with an office in Ocoee.
The deadline to register to vote for the June 24 primary is May 27.
Those who wish to vote by mail must request their ballot by June 12.
An early voting period is set for June 14 through June 22.
To find your voting information, head to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections website.
The winner of the special election will take over Thompson’s seat through the end of her term, which ends in 2028.
State Sen. Geraldine Thompson, a longtime Democratic lawmaker for Orange County, died in February from complications caused by knee replacement surgery. She was 76.