Lawson wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House

FAMU alumnus Alfred “Al” Lawson will carry the Democratic Party’s banner into the Nov. 6, 2012 general election for the Florida’s District Two seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lawson received 46,955 votes to win the Democratic nomination by a commanding 55 percent. He was followed by Leonard Bembry 22,447 (26 percent), Alvin Peters 11,951 (14 percent), and Mark Schlakman 4,667 (5 percent).

“We worked hard, stayed clean and gave the people of North Florida a vision and plan for the future in this campaign and they have responded,” Lawson said.

The former state representative and senator will challenge incumbent Steve Southerland, a member of the Tea Party.

“Social Security, Medicare, Putting a man on the moon….None of this, was done by just Democrats or just Republicans,” Lawson said. “Congress has been taken over by partisanship and Tea Party extremists that would rather score political points than do the work you sent them to do. We are going to change that!”

Florida Democratic Chairman Rod Smith, one of Lawson’s former colleagues in the Florida Senate, congratulated him on his victory.

"I'd like to congratulate Al Lawson on his victory tonight -- Florida Democrats are looking forward to doing all we can to win this race and elect him to Congress,” Smith said. “Al is a proven champion for middle class families who will stand up the extremists who are trying to end Medicare as we know it and be a strong voice for the people of north Florida. With Al Lawson as our candidate, this is a seat Democrats can and will win in November.”

In other election news, FAMU alumnus Andrew Gillum won a third term on the Tallahassee City Commission. He received 72 percent of the vote.