Democrat Eunic Ortiz files to succeed Jeff Brandes for Pinellas Senate seat

Eunic Ortiz has filed to run for Senate District 24 — a Pinellas County seat being vacated by term-limited Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes.

Ortiz is the first Democrat in the race, which also includes state Rep. Nick DiCeglie. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida as well as the national political communications director at Service Employees International Union.

If elected, she would be Florida’s first openly lesbian state Senator and the only Hispanic elected official in Pinellas County.

The Senate District is purple, with Republicans carrying a voter registration advantage at 131,507 voters to Democrats’ 117,412.

– Kelly Hayes, Extensive Enterprises Media