ORLANDO, Fla. – The race for state attorney of Orange and Osceola counties will feature a suspended state attorney, Gov. DeSantis’ appointee, and whoever wins the Republican primary for the seat in August.
Four people qualified for the Ninth Judicial Circuit state attorney race, according to the Florida Division of Elections Friday.
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First, there will be a Republican primary in August against Thomas “Fighter” Feiter and Seth Hyman, both Orlando criminal defense attorneys.
Suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell is the only Democrat running. She vowed she would run for reelection last August after Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended her.
DeSantis claimed she was too lenient on some criminals, including juvenile offenders, and avoided minimum mandatory sentencing guidelines.
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Worrell has denied those accusations. She says she was really suspended because of her policies on police accountability and demanding that law enforcement agencies build better cases.
Worrell is currently suing in state court to be reinstated, pointing to court rulings favoring another suspended Democratic state attorney, Andrew Warren, who is also running to get his seat back.
In Worrell’s place, DeSantis appointed Andrew Bain. Before that, Bain had been serving as a DeSantis-appointed judge. Bain has made several changes in policy at the state attorney’s office since his appointment and pledged to review cases dropped by Worrell. He has also been using a grand jury to review law enforcement use of force cases.
Bain is running as a no-party-affiliate candidate.
The winner of the August Republican primary will face Worrell and Bain in the November general election.
This year marks the first time a Republican has run for Orange-Osceola state attorney since 2008, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Elsewhere in Central Florida, incumbent State Attorney William Gladson, whose Fifth Judicial Circuit represents Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties, drew no challengers and will be reelected without opposition.
In the Seventh Judicial Circuit, which serves Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties, incumbent State Attorney RJ Larizza also drew no challengers and will be reelected without opposition.
In the 18th Judicial Circuit, which serves Brevard and Seminole counties, there will be a new state attorney. William Scheiner, who has worked in the state attorney’s office as a prosecutor, drew no challengers. He will replace State Attorney Phil Archer.
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