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Who’s running to replace Sen. Geraldine Thompson? Meet the candidates in Florida’s district 15 race

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Who’s running to replace Sen. Geraldine Thompson? Meet the candidates in Florida’s district 15 race


The death of State Senator Geraldine Thompson earlier this year left a notable vacancy in Central Florida politics, prompting a crowded field of candidates eager to fill her seat in the Florida Legislature.

Who are the candidates in the Democratic primary?

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What we know:

A Democratic special election will be held on Tuesday with four candidates in the race:

  • Representative LaVon Bracy Davis (Sister of Randolph Bracy)
  • Former state Senator Randolph Bracy (Brother of LaVon Bracy Davis)
  • Former firebrand congressman Alan Grayson
  • Personal injury attorney Coretta Anthony-Smith

This race comes with a sibling face-off between Representative LaVon Bracy Davis and former state Senator Randolph Bracy. The sibling’s mother, civil rights icon LaVon Bracy, has endorsed her daughter over her son. 

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Representative LaVon Bracy Davis | Former state Senator Randolph Bracy | Former firebrand congressman Alan Grayson | Personal injury attorney Coretta Anthony-Smith

Candidates will have to appeal to a diverse electorate spanning Orange County’s urban core to its western suburbs, a region Thompson was known for fiercely advocating on behalf of.

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The Democratic primary will take place on Tuesday, June 24, with the special general election set for Tuesday, September 2.

Who was Geraldine Thompson?

Dig deeper:

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Thompson, a longtime lawmaker and champion for education, civil rights, and West Orlando communities, died in January, just weeks before the start of the 2025 legislative session. 

“Senator Geraldine Thompson was so much more than a dedicated public servant and visionary leader. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose love, wisdom, and compassion shaped their lives and the lives of so many in their community and across the state,” her family said in a statement following her passing.

Sen. Geraldine Thompson chairs the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force but dissented Friday. [NSF: Colin Hackley/File]

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“Senator Geraldine Thompson was a true trailblazer in Florida politics. A lifelong public servant and a fighter for civil rights, her impact on Florida stretched far beyond the average elected official,” the Florida Democratic Party said in a statement following her passing.

Her passing marked the end of a decades-long career in public service that began in the Florida House and culminated with her return to the Senate in 2020.

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When can you vote in the Democratic primary?

What’s next:

Polls in Senate District 15 will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the Democratic primary. 

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The winner will advance to the Sept. 2 general election to face Republican Willie Montague, who secured his party’s nomination unopposed.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the News Service of Florida.

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Man convicted of 1991 fatal shooting of police officer is set to be executed in Florida

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Man convicted of 1991 fatal shooting of police officer is set to be executed in Florida


STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A man convicted of fatally shooting a police officer with his own service weapon during a traffic stop is set to be executed Tuesday evening in Florida.

Billy Leon Kearse, 53, is scheduled to receive a three-drug injection starting at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke. Kearse was initially sentenced to death in 1991 after being convicted of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm.

The Florida Supreme Court found that the trial court failed to give jurors certain information about aggravating circumstances and ordered a new sentencing. Kearse was resentenced to death in 1997.

This is Florida’s third execution scheduled for 2026, following a record 19 executions last year. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The highest number before then was eight executions in both 1984 and 2014, under former governors Bob Graham and Rick Scott, respectively.

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According to court records, Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish pulled over Kearse for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in January 1991. When Kearse couldn’t produce a valid driver’s license, Parrish ordered Kearse out of his vehicle and attempted to handcuff him.

A struggle ensued, and Kearse grabbed Parrish’s firearm, prosecutors said. Kearse fired 14 times, striking the officer nine times in the body and four times in his body armor. A nearby taxi driver heard the shots and used Parrish’s radio to call for help.

Parrish was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died from the gunshot wounds, officials said. Meanwhile, police used license plate information that Parrish had called in before approaching Kearse to identify the attacker’s vehicle and home address, where Kearse was arrested.

Last week, the Florida Supreme Court denied appeals filed by Kearse. His attorneys had argued that he was unconstitutionally deprived of a fair penalty phase and that his intellectual disability makes his execution unconstitutional.

Final appeals were pending Tuesday before the U.S. Supreme Court.

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A total of 47 people were executed in the U.S. in 2025. Florida led the way with a flurry of death warrants signed by DeSantis, far outpacing Alabama, South Carolina and Texas which each held five executions.

Besides the two Florida executions this year, Texas and Oklahoma have each executed one person so far.

Two more Florida executions have already been scheduled for this month. Michael Lee King, 54, is scheduled to die on March 17, and the execution of James Aren Duckett, 68, is set for March 31.

All Florida executions are carried out via lethal injection using a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.

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Florida High School Boys Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (FHSAA) – March 2, 2026

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Florida High School Boys Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (FHSAA) – March 2, 2026


GRAY REID

Gray Reid has spent most of his career in basketball and sports media. He began as a student manager for the Nevada men’s basketball team, then went on to coach overseas in China and later joined the LC State men’s basketball program as a graduate assistant. After coaching, Gray joined SBLive Sports as a videographer and video editor, eventually moving into his current role as Regional Marketing Director.



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South Florida reacts: Mixed emotions after U.S. and Israeli strikes kill Iran’s Supreme Leader

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South Florida reacts: Mixed emotions after U.S. and Israeli strikes kill Iran’s Supreme Leader


As tensions escalate overseas, locals in South Florida express a complex mix of concern, hope, and fear—especially for loved ones in Israel and Iran. Community leaders and families share their perspectives on uncertainty, security, and what the future holds.



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