Nationwide — Siblings Randolph Bracy and LaVon Bracy Davis are competing against each other in a Florida special primary election for a state senate seat once held by Geraldine Thompson. Both have political experience and come from a family deeply rooted in public service and civil rights activism.
The seat became vacant after Thompson died earlier this year. She was not just a political figure but also a close family friend. Their mother, LaVon Wright Bracy, a well-known civil rights activist, was the maid of honor at Thompson’s wedding.
Randolph Bracy is a former state senator, while LaVon Bracy Davis most recently served as a state representative. Their father, Randolph Bracy Jr., once led the local NAACP, co-founded a Baptist church in Orlando, and taught at Bethune-Cookman University.
According to the Associated Press, this is not the first time politics has come between the siblings. In last year’s Democratic primary for the same seat, Bracy Davis endorsed Geraldine Thompson over her brother. Now, they’re competing head-to-head.
The winner of the Democratic primary will go up against Republican Willie Montague in the general election. The district is heavily Democratic, with Black voters making up more than half of its registered Democrats, making the outcome of the primary especially important.