Updated Feb. 23, 2026, 1:25 p.m. ET
Gwen Graham, a former north Florida congresswoman and scion of a Sunshine State political family, has decided not to try to reclaim the seat she held briefly in 2015–17.
«After much consideration, I will not be running for Florida’s (2nd Congressional District),» Graham, daughter of the late Florida Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, posted on X on Feb. 23.
«For family reasons, now is not the right time for me to mount a campaign. Family must always come first. I am grateful for the encouragement and remain as committed as ever to public service,» she added.
Graham, of Tallahassee, was the last Democrat to hold the seat. Her upset of incumbent Steve Southerland, R-Panama City, was the Republicans’ only House loss in 2014.
Graham did not seek reelection in 2016 after the Legislature redrew the district to lean Republicans by 18 points and then decided to launch a campaign for governor in 2018.
The district has since been redrawn twice and the GOP advantage has been cut in half. Graham lost the Democratic primary for governor in 2018 to former Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum, who went on to lose to current GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis.
U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Panama City, saying “the time has come to pass the torch,” announced he would not seek a sixth term in Congress after the end of his current one in 2027. That sparked a surge of GOP interest in the seat.
It was furthered by recent rumors that Dunn, 72, might resign as early as this summer – rumors that Dunn did not dispel. On Feb. 11, Punchbowl News was reporting from the halls of Congress that Dunn was saying «no comment» to «repeated questions … on whether he planned to serve the remainder of his term.» CNN also reported that Dunn has been having health problems.
The 2nd Congressional District is a sprawling 16-county region of the Panhandle and Big Bend anchored by Panama City and Tallahassee.
Candidate qualifying ends on June 12. So far, the field of candidates now has grown to eight – the most candidates ever in the modern era, according to records dating to 1978 that are posted online by the Florida Department of State’s Division of Elections.
This is a developing news story. Check back later for more details.
This story contains previous reporting by James Call. Jim Rosica can be reached at jrosica@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @JimRosicaFL.
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