Democrat Benjamin Sandlin Launches Second Bid for Open Jacksonville House Seat

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Democrat Benjamin Sandlin is making another run for the Florida House, announcing a bid for the open House District 12 seat in Jacksonville after falling short in the district’s 2024 election.

Sandlin, 22, filed paperwork Friday to enter the race just days before Florida’s candidate qualifying period begins. The Jacksonville Democrat previously challenged House Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan in 2024, losing by roughly 14 percentage points in the Republican-leaning district.

With Duggan now term-limited, the seat will be open in 2026, creating a new opportunity for both parties in one of Northeast Florida’s closely watched legislative contests.

Democrats Target Open Seat

Sandlin said Democratic leaders encouraged another campaign after the party’s performance in the district during the last election cycle.

“The Florida Democratic Party and I agreed that this seat was just too close in 2024 to leave uncontested,” Sandlin said.

He said issues such as labor rights, public education, and housing affordability remain central to his campaign.

Before entering the House race, Sandlin had filed to run for Jacksonville City Council District 7, a seat being vacated by Democrat Jimmy Peluso.

Republicans Enter Race With Financial Advantage

Former Jacksonville City Council President Terrance Freeman enters the race with a substantial financial edge. Through the end of May, Freeman reported raising more than $167,000 for his campaign and an additional $506,000 through his affiliated political committee, “For the Future We Want.”

By comparison, campaign finance records showed Benjamin Sandlin reported $0 in total contributions for the House District 12 race at the time of filing. As the campaign moves forward, fundraising will likely be a key challenge for Democrats seeking to compete in the Republican-leaning district.

Freeman served on the Jacksonville City Council after being appointed in 2018 and later won election to countywide office. He also served as Council President.

Political observers view Freeman as an early favorite in the race given his fundraising strength and established network within local Republican politics.

District Leans Republican

House District 12 spans portions of southern Duval County and includes communities on both sides of the St. Johns River.

While Democrats have sought to make gains in Jacksonville-area races, Republicans continue to hold an advantage in the district.

The open-seat contest is expected to draw increased attention as both parties look to strengthen their position in Northeast Florida ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

Race Snapshot

What’s Next

Candidate qualifying begins June 8, and additional candidates could still enter the race.

Fundraising and voter outreach efforts are expected to intensify throughout the summer as campaigns prepare for the 2026 election season.