Race Analysis: Democratic Congressional Primary (Dist. 16)

BRADENTON – On the August primary ballot, two Democrats will compete for the chance to take on Republican incumbent Vern Buchanan in November. One is an experienced politician who almost won the seat in the past. The other is a political newcomer who thinks it's time for new blood.

Brent King is an airline pilot and former teacher who's never run for elected office. A Lakewood Ranch resident, King says he's sick of partisan rhetoric and believes voters should have a choice on the ballot.

King, 49, is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he received a degree in education. The Atlanta native later earned an MBA from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

King taught high school for six years, before taking time off to attend flight school and eventually became a full-time pilot for commercial airlines. He says he has legislative experience from working on the appropriations committee of the Georgia State Assembly.

King is concerned with economic inequality, noting that while productivity has increased 65 percent, wages have only gone up by 8 percent. His platform includes making college more affordable, protecting Social Security, environmental protection (especially in this coastal state) and equal pay for women.

King's opponent is longtime local Democrat Jan Schneider, who ran for Congress in 2002, 2004 and 2006. In 2002 and 2004, she won the Democratic primary but lost both times to former U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris. In 2006, she lost the primary to current Sarasota County Democratic Party Chair Christine Jennings. She then launched an unsuccessful independent bid in 2008.



Schneider is also concerned about protecting Social Security and Medicare, and supports Sen. Bernie Sanders' call to enact true universal health care via Medicare for All. She's also concerned with maintaining a foreign policy that avoids the sort of military adventurism that has plagued the U.S. over the past decade.

Schneider has a reputation as being an unusually brainy politician whose strong suit is policy. She graduated from Yale Law School and was there at the same time as both Hillary and Bill Clinton.

Analysis:

The remapped District 16 now covers Manatee County and parts of Sarasota and Hillsborough counties. Redistricting made it slightly more favorable for Democrats, but it's still a Republican stronghold and defeating a 5-term incumbent who is not only a prolific fundraiser, but one of the wealthiest members of Congress will be a tall order.

Having two candidates in the race is a good sign for Democrats, and their competition should help more voters realize that there is an alternative to Buchanan. Newcomers like King are exactly what the party needs in Florida–new blood and fresh ideas. On the other hand, Schneider's name recognition will not only make her tough to beat in the primary, but would be a big weapon against Buchanan.

At 68, this might be Schneider's last run. While she has tremendous experience, she’s also come up short in every previous effort. At 49, King certainly represents the future of local Democrats. At a recent debate between the two (click here to watch) there wasn’t a whole lot of space between the two candidates on major issues, though Schneider definitely came off as more progressive, agreeing with Bernie Sanders' proposals on minimum wage, trade, and health care, while King seemed more centrist and closer to a Clinton Democrat. At the end of the day, Democrats will choose between Schneider’s experience and name recognition and King’s youth and vigor.