Friday was Florida’s deadline for candidates to file for this year’s elections. Among the North Florida races of interest:
U.S. HOUSE
• In District 3, incumbent Kat Cammack will face two Republican challengers in the primary. Two Democrats and an unaffiliated candidate also filed.
• The new District 4 drew three Republicans, including state Sen. Aaron Bean, along with two Democrats and a write-in.
• Voters in the newly redrawn District 5 have three Republicans to choose from: Rep. John Rutherford, the current incumbent in District 4, faces Leigha “Luna” Lopez and Mara H. Macie.
• Rep. Michael Waltz, the Republican incumbent in District 6, is challenged by GOP candidate Charles E. Davis and Libertarian Joe Hannoush.
FLORIDA HOUSE
• Two locals — Democrat Wyman Duggan in Jacksonville’s District 12 and Republican Cyndi Stevenson in District 18 in St. Johns County — drew no opposition, meaning they’re among the 30-odd state lawmakers already guaranteed new terms in Tallahassee with no election necessary.
• After write-in candidates filed late last week for two Jax-area House seats, closing the primaries in those races, a write-in did the same in House District 14, where City Councilman Garrett Dennis faces former District 14 Rep. Kim Daniels, along with Iris Hinton and Mincy Pollock. Florida primaries are closed, but they become open when all candidates are of the same party and wouldn’t be opposed in the general — unless qualified write-ins get involved. Political experts say it’s common for parties to run write-ins in races when their favored candidate could lose if voters from other parties were allowed to cast ballots.