A number of Leon County Democrats say they believe they have found a candidate with the star power to match Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, and take back a state Senate seat they had held for more than a century. 

But that potential candidate has of yet declined to officially declare while generating speculation with comments to Tallahassee activists.

Prominent civil rights attorney Daryl Parks, a Florida State University Law graduate, confirmed this week to the Tallahassee Democrat he is considering challenging Simon, a former football player who was on FSU’s 1999 national championship team and first elected in 2022. 

A whispering campaign about Parks’ potential candidacy surfaced after a Feb. 19 meeting of the Democratic Club of North Florida. 

Ryan Ray, chair of the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee, told a reporter afterwards that Parks had said he’s going to make a run and that the possibility of Democrats taking back the seat had put a “pep in his step.” 

Reached the next day Parks would not confirm the conversation and said Ray did not speak for him. Ray then retracted his statement. 

Now, Parks said he is taking a serious look at launching a Senate campaign against the incumbent Simon.

“Over the last few weeks, I received calls and texts from people from all walks who are fed up with what they see happening in the capital. Republicans, Independents, and Democrats, all fed up with our Senator siding with insiders and actually working against us,” said Parks. 

For Simon and Parks to stage a showdown for a Senate seat between two prominent FSU alumni, Parks first has to get past Gadsden County Commissioner Kimblin E. NeSmith, and the Florida Education Association’s executive director Sheria Monique in the Democratic primary – they both have announced their candidacy and are raising money, though their totals are dwarfed by the hundreds of thousands in Simon’s campaign account.

Nesmith has $20,000 in a campaign account. Griffin $11,000. 

“Looks like they’re going to have a crowded primary. Whoever emerges will have to make a case against Sen. Simon’s strong record of delivering for the district,” said Simon’s spokesperson Erin Isaac

Democrats think Simon benefited from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ coattails, a redrawn district led by the governor and the GOP’s significant financial advantage to win the 2022 election against former Sen. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee. 

The sprawling 13-county Senate District 3 marries a Tallahassee area dominated by two universities and growing professional and medical communities with 11 counties blanketed with forests and farms. 

The sparsely populated rural counties in recent years have voted Republican with more than 60% of the vote, while the more populated Tallahassee area of Leon and Gadsden counties back Democrats by the same margin.  

Two years ago, Simon trimmed 2% points (19,000 votes) off the Democrats vote total in Leon and Gadsden counties while pulling in three-quarters of the vote in the in the remaining 11 counties to win by six points.  

Both Simon and Parks have strong ties to the community as FSU graduates and through community service. 

Parks, a civil rights and personal injury attorney and his former partner Ben Crump gained a national reputation when they represented the families of Trayvon Martin, killed by George Zimmerman in 2012, and became the lead attorneys in a number of other wrongful death cases. 

Daryl Parks and Ben Crump call on Eric Holder to investigate DOC death

Daryl Parks and Ben Crump call on Attorney General Eric Holder to inviestigate Florida DOC desth of Latandra Ellington

Sean Rossman/Democrat

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Simon earned his celebrity on the football field at FSU and later with the Super Bowl winning Philadelphia Eagles.  

Both returned to Tallahassee to work in the community after being in the national spotlight. 

Parks has been involved with the Sickle Cell Foundation, the Bethel Community Development Corporation, Legal Services of North Florida and the Tallahassee Urban League. 

Simon volunteered with youth football groups, the Boys and Girls Club, and led Volunteer Florida. 

His first term in the Senate has been highlighted by an increase in the amount of money secured for local projects, support for school vouchers, and voting to preempt local wage ordinances.  

Parks said the Simon platform puts “corporations that gouge us above,” the people he is supposed to represent. 

Parks said he will decide soon whether he will challenge Simon. He has until June 14 to file the paperwork and designate a treasurer and bank, and begin to raise campaign money.  

Simon has already file, has $302,689 in his campaign account and so far this election cycle has spent nearly $10,000 on voter outreach, campaign T-shirts, and media services. 

James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow on him Twitter: @CallTallahassee