Carlos Guillermo Smith announces candidacy for Florida Senate District 17

ORLANDO, Fla. — Former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, 42, said Friday that he will run for state senate in the 2024 election.

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The Democrat represented Florida House District 49 from 2016 to 2022.

The state’s redistricting process put him in the race for District 37 last year, but he lost the race to Republican Susan Plasencia.

He will now run for Florida Senate District 17 in hopes of replacing State Sen. Linda Stewart, who currently represents the district but cannot run for reelection as she has reached term limits.

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Smith will make a formal announcement at 11 a.m. Saturday in downtown Orlando.

He will be joined by U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost and state Rep. Anna Eskamani, who are also Democrats.

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Central Florida Spotlight: State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Chief Judge-Elect Lisa Munyon Greg Warmoth discusses the challenges and opportunities in the Ninth District Circuit Court system and Florida's House of Representatives.

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