Republican State Rep. Travis Cummings will not run in the likely special election to replace Sen. John Thrasher, slated to become president of Florida State University. Some floated Cummings name in recent months as a possible candidate for Thrasher’s Senate District 6 seat. However, he told The News Service of Florida he will not run, in part because of his young family.
“We decided, no, we’re going to stay put,” Cummings said.
In addition, Cummings does not live in Thrahser’s Senate District 6, but he does operate a business in the district, which covers St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler and part of Volusia Counties.
He is seeking re-election next month in Clay County’s House District 18.
Florida State University Board of Trustees picked Thrasher to become the school’s next president, but the appointment still requires approval from the state university system’s Board of Governors. That will happen sometime in November, after the general election.
Thrasher is running for re-election this fall, and widely expected to win another term in the heavily Republican district. Thrasher’s move to the FSU presidency would then necessitate a special election.
Potential candidates include Republican state Reps. Travis Hutson and Ronald “Doc” Renuart, as well as Republican Derek Hankerson, who lost to Thrasher in the Aug. 26 primary.
