Cord Byrd defends Debbie Mayfield Snub, he says that the division of the elections must reject ‘constitutionally inelegable’ candidates

Lawyers of the Secretary of State of Florida Byrd They are defending disqualifying Rep. Debbie Mayfield of a special choice for the Senate.

The election division rejected Mayfield’s candidacy in district 19 of the Senate because it already served in the seat for eight consecutive years, including most of 2024, according to a brief Filed by a state department lawyer Mohammad Jazil.

State prosecutors argue that running again would violate Term limit rules In legislators who run for a position they have already had for eight consecutive years.

“Nothing in Florida’s law demands that the secretary certify the names of the candidates who are constitutionally inevitable,” argues the brief.

Mayfield asked the Supreme Court of Florida To intervene, arguing that the State Department surpassed by disqualifying it when no one else had legally challenged its candidacy.

“The secretary plays a purely ministerial role in the processing of the qualification documentation, and has no authority to determine if the qualification paperwork is necessary or if there are reasons to challenge Mayfield’s eligibility to execute,” says the presentation of Mayfield.

Mayfield served in the Senate from 2016 to 2024, and could not look for another mandate in November due to the deadline limits. Instead, he ran for and won A seat in the camera of the last cycle that represents district 32 of the House of Representatives.

But when the sen. Randy wellHis successor in the Senate, resigned to run For Congress, Mayfield announced that he would look for his old seat in the Senate in a special choice. She had already presented an irrevocable resignation from the house when the state disqualified it.

The State Department said the election division had all the necessary information to get Mayfield containment.

“She provided the secretary with a legal memorandum, dated November 27, 2024, noting that she held the position she now seeks for the previous eight years and consecutive (but arguing that she is still eligible for the office),” reads the presentation.

Ministerial tasks such as qualification, argues the State, “neither requires that the secretary suspend common sense or common knowledge.”

“It is for the same reason that the secretary cannot certify the King of England (a non -American citizen) or a notorious serial killer (a convicted criminal) for his inclusion on a ballot with the hope that a political opponent (if there are There is one) will present a challenge, ”says the information.

Several legislators in the era of the term limits have been called outside the office and then return after a period of distance. Mayfield now serves in the house even though they previously served eight years from 2008 to 2016.

But the state lawyer argues that Mayfield’s case differed because she was running next year. A Republican primary is scheduled for SD 19 on April 1, with the special general elections on June 10. The winner will assume the position this year and serve until 2028.

The informative session argues that the State had the obligation to disqualify Mayfield when it seemed clear that it should be disqualified.

Mayfield has until Wednesday to respond to the state’s arguments. She has asked the Court to intervene before Friday, February 14, the day when Brevard County’s electoral officials plan to send primary ballots to military and foreign voters.

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