Tim Thomas says he is not running for State Senate, a day after filing candidate paperwork

Melbourne Councilman Tim Thomas said he is not running for Florida Senate after speaking with Senate Republican leadership Friday, despite filing candidate paperwork a day earlier.

Thomas filed to run for State Senate District 19 on Thursday, a day before the candidate qualifying deadline. The race would have pitted him against frontrunner State Rep. Randy Fine.

Thomas pivoted Friday, less than 12 hours after paying the $1,782 qualifying fee. In a statement, he said he made the decision not to run after speaking with Florida Senate President-Designate Sen. Ben Albritton.

"After thoughtful discussion and productive meeting with Senate leadership, I have decided not to run at this time," Thomas wrote. "President-Designate Albritton was generous with his time and I appreciate his council."

Thomas declined to answer follow-up questions Friday.

Albritton called Thomas a "great Floridian who has served our country admirably" in his own statement. Thomas is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army.

"I look forward to watching his star rise and can't wait to see what he and I can tackle together," Albritton said in the statement.

With no additional candidates filing before the noon deadline Friday, the race for the seat currently held by Florida Sen. Debbie Mayfield is locked in with two Republicans and one Democrat in the running. Mayfield, who is facing term limits, is running for Florida House District 32.

Fine, the overwhelming front-runner in the race, will face Merritt Island contractor and perennial Brevard County candidate Charles "Chuck" Sheridan in the August Republican primary, with the winner slated to compete against Democrat Vance Ahrens in November.

Ahrens, a progressive candidate, is running to become Florida's first openly transgender state senator.

Former Port Canaveral Commissioner Robyn Hattaway backed out of the race earlier this week. She has announced that she planned to run in 2026 for the State House District 31 held by Florida Rep. Tyler Sirois if he wins reelection this year.

With endorsements from a list of Republican heavyweights, including former President Donald Trump, Fine is poised to steamroll the race with more than $176,000 in campaigning funding and another million in cash on hand through his Friends of Randy Fine political action committee.

In contrast, Ahrens has raised only $3,700 and Sheridan has reported no campaign contributions since announcing in February.

Florida Senate District 19 covers most of Central and South Brevard from Titusville to Micco. State senators serve four-year terms and make an annual salary of $29,697.

Eric Rogers is a watchdog reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Rogers at 321-242-3717 or [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Melbourne councilman says he isn't running in State Senate race against Fine