Pelosi addressed the issue at a February 23 press conference
where she endorsed Val Demings’ bid for the CD10 Democratic nomination.
Demings, a former Orlando police chief, previously won the Democratic
nomination for CD10 in 2012 but came up short in her general election contest
against Republican Dan Webster. The newly redrawn CD10 is now a minority access
district with about 50 percent black voters.
“I don’t want to divulge our personal conversations, but
what I will say is I think the fact that the Congressional Black Caucus, of
which Corrine is a very respected and valued member, is supporting Val Demings
should be a clear indication of where we should be going,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi added that: “Corrine Brown is something very special
… She’s my girl. We’re pals.”
CD5, which Brown has represented since 1992, ran north-south
from Duval County to Orange County until the Florida Supreme Court voted 5-2 on
December 2 to approve a new set of Congressional district maps in compliance
with the Fair Districts Amendment. The new maps included a redrawn District 5
that runs from Duval to Gadsden Counties. The new CD5 remains a minority-access
seat with about 45 percent black voters.
Brown has filed to run for reelection in CD5. Her campaign
had $76,067 in cash on hand at the end of 2015.
Former state Sen. Alfred “Al” Lawson is mounting a challenge
to Brown in the Democratic primary. Both are graduates of Florida A&M
University.