ORLANDO, Fla. – Democratic and Republican voters in eastern Orange and Osceola counties will go to the polls in November to pick nominees for a special election for a Florida House seat.
Fred Hawkins, the Republican state representative for House District 35, left his seat earlier this year to become president of South Florida State College. That means voters will choose his replacement in special elections.
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Party primaries for Democrats and Republicans will be held on Nov. 7. Since Florida is a closed primary state, only Democrats and Republicans who are in Florida House District 35 will vote in those elections.
The winners of those party primaries will go onto a general election on Jan. 16, open to all voters.
For voters in Orange County, early voting runs from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5. Times and locations are on the Orange County Supervisor of Elections website.
You can check your registration information or find your polling place there. Voters also have until Oct. 26 to request a vote-by-mail ballot.
For voters in Osceola County, early voting runs from Oct. 28 to Nov. 4. Times and locations are on the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections website, where you can also check your voter registration, request a vote-by-mail ballot or find your polling place.
Now let’s meet the candidates for Democratic and Republican primaries.
Republicans
ERIKA BOOTH: Website | Facebook
Erika Booth is currently a member of the Osceola County School Board. She has a degree in elementary education and has worked in several schools. A native of Kissimmee, she is also married to Ricky Booth, a county commissioner.
Booth is a conservative who is vowing to fight the “woke agenda” as a supporter of the parental rights movement. She is also supportive of crackdowns on illegal immigration. She’s a supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Trump, according to her website. She’s collected endorsements from Florida’s Realtors and the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, among other groups.
KEN DAVENPORT: Website | Facebook
Ken Davenport is a flight attendant and real estate agent who said he got into the race as a concerned citizen. The Brevard County native also worked in law enforcement for a time. On his website, Davenport said he supports freedom of religion and medical freedom reform, Second Amendment rights and is anti-abortion. Davenport ran against Hawkins in the 2022 Republican primary for the district and came within less than 1,200 votes.
SCOTTY MOORE: Website | Facebook
Scotty Moore is a nonprofit consultant who worked with several groups, including Campus Crusade for Christ. In 2022 he won the Republican primary for U.S. House District 9 but lost to Democratic Rep. Darren Soto.
Moore’s website touts him as a defender of “conservative principles that honor God and Keep Florida Free.” He also supports the parental rights movement, does not support transgender rights, is pro-Second Amendment and is anti-abortion.
Democrats
RISHI BAGGA: Website | Facebook
Rishi Bagga is an attorney and former prosecutor whose family came to Orange County from Canada when he was a child. He now is vice president for Skyline Hotels, a hotel management company. Bagga ran against Hawkins in 2022 and lost.
Bagga said he supports more flexibility for local governments in spending tourist tax revenue, diversifying Florida’s economy with jobs from different industries, expanding Medicaid so that more people qualify for health insurance and is pro-choice. He wants more transparent policing policies, increases in access and funding for mental health and strengthening gun laws.
MARUCCI GUZMAN: Website | Facebook
Marucci Guzman is the executive director for Latino Leadership, a community organization in Central Florida that seeks to boost Hispanic residents through a variety of programs. Among the programs she established were a fully bilingual autism center, a Puerto Rico Family Response Center during Hurricane Maria and a behavioral health program for the Latino community.
On her website, Guzman’s top issues include making health care and insurance more affordable, fully funding education, strengthening gun laws and women’s reproductive rights.
Tom Keen is a Naval veteran and businessman living in the Lake Nona area. He ran for in the Democratic primary for Florida House District 35 in 2022 but lost to Rishi Bagga.
Keen said he wants to focus on committing more funding for affordable housing, fighting restrictions on books and other free speech, protecting Florida’s environment through smart growth laws and expanding access to abortion.
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