Will Scott, Nelson face primaries for Senate?
Florida’s period for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and judicial candidates to submit paperwork and pay filing fees to secure spots on the 2018 ballot begins today at and ends at noon Friday.
Candidates for other state and local offices — including governor, state Legislature, County Commission and School Board — have a separate June 18-22 qualifying period.
In Florida, Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s challenge to three-term Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson is expected to be one of the nation’s premier Senate races this year. Scott and Nelson will learn this week whether either has to wade through a partisan primary to get to their anticipated general election clash.
At least four other Republicans and two Democrats have told the Florida Division of Elections of their intent to run for Senate. But to get spots on the ballot, those candidates will have to pay $10,440 filing fees by Friday.
Palm Beach County’s four U.S. House members — Reps. Brian Mast, R-Palm City; Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach; Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton; and Alcee Hastings, D-Delray Beach — have all announced re-election campaigns. They will learn this week how many other candidates are running for their seats.
Races for circuit judge and county judge will also be set this week. Incumbent judges often go unopposed, but three open circuit judgeships and two open seats for county judge in Palm Beach County are expected to attract several candidates.
The filing fee for candidates for circuit judge is $5,843.20 and the fee to run for a county court judgeship is $5,520.80.
Filing fees are set at 6 percent of the salary of the office being sought for partisan candidates and 4 percent of the office salary for nonpartisan and judicial candidates.
Most candidates pay filing fees to get on the ballot. But in Palm Beach-Treasure Coast Congressional District 18, incumbent Mast and Democrat Lauren Baer collected more than 5,110 voter signatures to qualify for the ballot without paying fees.