Former Democratic state Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis handily won her Tuesday special election to the Florida Senate, filling the vacancy caused by the unexpected death of her mentor, state Sen. Geraldine Thompson, earlier this year.
Bracy Davis’ former chief of staff, fellow Democrat RaShon Young, also won a special election for her former state House seat by a sizeable margin. The two were heavy favorites to win in their reliably Democratic-leaning Orange County districts.
Young will represent House District 40, which includes parts of west Orlando and Pine Hills. Beginning in 2022, Bracy Davis was twice elected to represent District 40 before she announced her resignation in April in order to run for Senate. She will represent Senate District 15, once held by Thompson, which includes parts of Orlando, Ocoee, Apopka and Winter Garden.
Bracy Davis and Young celebrated their victories together with a watch party Tuesday night. Bracy Davis released a statement where she thanked voters and her campaign staffers. She also thanked Thompson and her late father, the Rev. Dr. Randolph Bracy Jr.
“This seat belongs to the people of Senate District 15,” she said. “My office is your office, and together, we will keep fighting for affordable housing, a growing job market, safe schools and a Florida that reflects our shared values of fairness, freedom, and dignity.”
Bracy Davis defeated Republican Willie Montague, the founder of the House of Timothy center for teen boys, with 73% of the vote. Young defeated Republican Tuan Le, an aerospace engineer and businessman, and write-in candidate Christopher Hall, a security officer who says he lives in Tallahassee, taking in 75% of the vote.
As of Thursday, Bracy Davis’s campaign had raised $114,505 and spent $70,265 while Montague raised $5,237 and spent $4,901, according to state campaign finance records. Young had raised $97,994 and spent $66,386 as of Thursday, while Hall reported raising $0 as of his latest filing. Le hadn’t filed any campaign finance reports at all, records show, although he said he will file the reports eventually.
Thompson passed away in February after what her family said were complications from a knee replacement surgery. First elected to state office in 2006, she represented parts of Orlando and western Orange County in the Legislature for nearly 20 years and is remembered as a trailblazer and civil rights icon.
Bracy Davis, whose mother, civil rights activist LaVon Bracy, was Thompson’s lifelong friend, said she would like to carry on Thompson’s legacy by continuing to champion the causes she held dear.
Bracy Davis also endorsed Young and credited him as a key part of her success as a representative in Tallahassee.
Young previously said his service as Bracy Davis’ chief of staff has prepared him to hold office, having already built relationships with lawmakers in Tallahassee which will help get legislation passed. As a representative, he plans to prioritize educational reform and providing quality access to affordable healthcare.
