Two Northeast Florida Republican state legislators have given up their safe state House seats to compete for Senate District 6, which was recently vacated by long-time regional power broker and newly installed Florida State University President John Thrasher.
State Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, and Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, have well-staffed campaigns and will have plenty of resources to compete in what is expected to be a close race for the seat, which covers St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties and the northern part of Volusia County.
The winner of the Jan. 27 primary will move on to face Democrat David Cox in the April 7 general election as the favorite given the region’s conservative voting history and their name recognition serving in House districts that are part of District 6.
Renuart and Hutson submitted their resignations earlier this month. They are not effective until the day before the special general election.