“North Florida needs a strong, progressive voice in
Washington to protect those issues important to our families,” said Lawson. “I
fought for our communities while serving in our state Capitol, and I will
continue to fight for North Florida’s working families in Congress.”
This summer, the Florida Supreme Court ruled the state’s congressional districts unconstitutional and ordered a new map drawn. Following a special session and continued litigation, the trial court adopted and the Florida Supreme Court approved a map that created a new district for the communities of North Florida, stretching from Tallahassee and Gadsden County to Jacksonville. District 5 formerly ran north-south from Duval County to Orange County.
The new Congressional District 5 is a heavily Democratic
district that voted in 2012 for U.S. President Barack Obama with more than
60-percent. It is also a minority-access district with about 45 percent African
Americans.
FAMU alumna Corrine Brown, who has represented District 5 in
Congress since 1992, has filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the new map. But
late last week, Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell wrote that an adviser
to Brown said Brown won’t seek reelection in the District 5 if that lawsuit is
rejected.
Lawson said he believes that Brown is leaning toward
entering the race for the redrawn District 10, a new minority-access seat that
would include parts of Orange County that she currently represents.
“She's given all kinds of indications she'll run out of
Orlando,” Lawson said in a quote published by the Miami Herald.
In 2012, Lawson nearly ousted incumbent Congressman Steve
Southerland (R-Panama City) in former Congressional District 2, outperforming
Obama in the district. Additionally, Lawson showed his fundraising muscle by
raising over $750,000 during that campaign.