© 2024 WFSU Public Media
WFSU News · Tallahassee · Panama City · Thomasville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Politicians And Other Performers – North Florida House Race Draws Big Names

Rep. Southerland (left) speaking at his Tallahassee campaign office flanked by Sen. Rubio.
Nick Evans

The two candidates running to represent Florida’s second congressional district are rallying their bases, and calling for constituents to get out and vote early.  Both the Southerland and Graham campaigns are pulling out all the stops to get their message across.

The midterm election cycle tends to be relatively muted – a kind of political doldrums in between the highly engaged electorates turning out every four years to select a president.  Second district candidates Rep. Steve Southerland (R-FL2) and Gwen Graham, his Democratic challenger, are encouraging voters to get to the polls early.  And they’ve brought in big name surrogates to help. 

Speaking in support of Southerland, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) says voting early means no surprises.

“It allows, for example, and that’s why I encourage everyone to go out and vote – you just never know what comes up on Election Day – anything can come up from a flat tire to a sick child, and suddenly you can’t go vote,” Rubio says. “So it’s important to get your vote in and vote now.”

The second district race is bringing big names on the Democratic side of the aisle as well.  Before Election Day, Graham is expecting campaign visits from former President Bill Clinton and Margaritaville Mayor Jimmy Buffett. 

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.