FL-21, FL-25: Expect Announcements in January

As SSP readers know, we’ve been keeping our eyes on the Miami area for Democratic pick-up opportunities in the House next year.  In particular, Democrats are hoping to draft former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez and Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair and Cuban American National Foundation Executive Director Joe Garcia to run against the Diaz-Balart brothers.  Both of these guys would be tough opponents in districts where Democrats haven’t put up much of a fight in years.  And now, from the Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee blog, comes the response:

For those not on the email list of the Miami-Dade County Democratic Party, here’s what Joe Garcia said in response to the rush of interest in drafting him for Congress: “While I am still far from making a decision, I do want to say that your kindness and support are very humbling and much appreciated!” […]

Garcia’s email concluded with mention of the new web site draftgarcia.com, so I think it’s safe to say he’s not against running against Mario Diaz-Balart in District 25. In an interview Friday with Nicole Sandler on WINZ AM940, he said it was a matter of convincing his wife and young daughter that it was right for the family.

Expect a decision by the second half of January, he said. […]

Meanwhile, there’s a growing web site to draft Raul Martinez, former mayor of Hialeah, to run for Congressional District 21, the seat held by Lincoln Diaz-Balart. You can hear Joe Garcia encouraging Martinez to run, in that clip on WINZ. Again, a decision likely in January.

Garcia said he knows of a handful of possible candidates to run against Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in Congressional District 18, and he’s encouraging them to consider it strongly.

I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to having two or perhaps even three barn-burning races in South Florida to follow next year.

Update: Over in the diaries, Progressive America has much more info on FL-25 and Joe Garcia.