Lawson likely to face CD5 primary contender from Jacksonville

On Tuesday, Florida A&M alumnus Alfred “Al” Lawson confirmed that he will enter the race for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from the newly redrawn Congressional District 5 (CD5) in North Florida. He told the Miami Herald that he thinks incumbent Corrine Brown, a FAMU alumna, will probably run in District 10 (CD10) in Central Florida. CD5 and CD10 are both minority-access districts.

Lawson will almost definitely face a Jacksonville-based contender in the Democratic primary. The Florida Times-Union reports that several black current and former elected officials in the Duval County area are interested in running for CD5 if Brown decides not to seek reelection in that district.

According to Times-Union reporter Tia Mitchell: “State Rep. Mia Jones, a Jacksonville Democrat, said she is open to campaigning for the seat if Brown does not…State Sen. Audrey Gibson, another Jacksonville Democrat, said people had asked her to consider running if Brown doesn’t. Former state Rep. Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville, told the Miami Herald that he also would run for the seat if Brown does not.”

Jones is a FAMU alumna.

A Tallahassee-based candidate such as Lawson could have an advantage despite the fact that Duval County has 58 percent of the registered voters in CD5. Political consultant Matthew Isbell says that recent voter turnout in Duval has been smaller than the combined voter turnout in Leon and Gadsden Counties. Lawson represented Leon and Gadsden for 28 years in the Florida Legislature.