The Citrus Peel

The Hillsborough County DEC’s 10th annual Spring Fling was, as one might expect so close to a pivotal election season, filled with rousing speeches from Democratic candidates and legislators. Rising stars in the Democratic Party, former US Representative, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, and Florida House minority leader, Fentrice Driskell were keynote speakers of the night. Calls to action – and to donate – were made, but the talk of the night came from one shocking announcement from Hillsborough County Commissioner, Pat Kemp.

After an inspirational speech from Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a Democrat opposing former Republican Florida governor and Sen. Rick Scott for his senate seat in November, Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen introduced Pat Kemp with a passionate speech. A woman next to me commented, “I’ve never seen him like this.” in reference to Cohen’s fiery words to Democrats -primarily urging them to fill Kemp’s District 6 County Commissioner seat with another Democrat in the next election. The audience was soon to see the reason for Cohen’s excitement in his introduction of Kemp.

Kemp took the podium to much applause and began by saying that she was inspired by Donald Trump’s recent social media post on Truth Social: “Any great MAGA Republicans looking to run against Laurel Lee in Florida’s 15th Congressional District? IF SO, PLEASE STEP FORWARD!” As one might expect from a room full of Democrats, there was a palpable sense of distaste in the air. To this, Kemp responded, “I know, it surprised me too. Which is why I’ve decided to run against her.”

The room erupted into applause and noises of surprise. The rest of Kemp’s speech – like the speeches from Mucarsel-Powell and Driskell, highlighted the importance for Democrats in Florida to flip seats currently held by Republicans. A sentiment echoed by the Hillsborough County DEC’s website which reads, “Flip Florida Blue.”

Laurel Lee, Kemp’s opponent and the Republican incumbent Florida’s fifteenth congressional district, served as Ron Desantis’ former Secretary of State and as a Circuit Court Judge in Florida’s thirteenth Judicial Court under former governor Rick Scott. Lee likely earned Trump’s distaste when she rejected a vocal faction of Trump supporters’ call for an audit of the 2020 election. While Lee is usually a reliable, Republican vote in congress, she does stray from the pack at times. For instance, she was one of only six republicans to vote for the recent 1.2 Trillion Dollar spending package to keep the government open on March 22nd of this year.

Jackie Toledo, a former Republican state legislator who lost to Lee in the 2022 primary, posted on social media, “Great MAGA Republican answering the call and ready to serve.”, in response to Trump’s call for a run against Lee, but Toldeo has not officially filed to run against Lee in the 2024 election.

Lee’s district encompasses a Tampa suburb and a portion of western, conservative Polk County. As highlighted by the other DEC speeches of the night, it will be a difficult race for Pat Kemp and the Democratic party in Florida, who is banking on their support for education, Women’s reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and Floridian’s interest in environmental protection to carry them across the finish line.