Inside the ‘chaotic’ Florida primary pitting a Gen Z activist against Alan Grayson

Maxwell Alejandro Frost boasts the support of the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and other prominent figures on the left. It’s an impressive showing for a Gen Z political activist running his first campaign in the race to fill Rep. Val Demings’ (D-Fla.) Orlando-area seat.

But top Democrats are growing worried that despite Frost’s overwhelming endorsement advantage, his main Democratic competitor — controversial former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) — could find his way back to Congress.

Thanks to a fractured 10-person field — which includes convicted felon and former Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), state Sen. Randolph Bracy and even Demings’ pastor, Terence Gray — a candidate could advance from the Tuesday primary with just over one quarter of the vote.

Increasingly, Democrats fear that candidate could be Grayson. The pugnacious pol earned a reputation for cursing out reporters, fellow Democrats and congressional Republicans alike during a tumultuous career that began 16 years ago.

The differences between the two candidates are stark. Frost is a 25-year-old Afro-Cuban first-time office seeker. Frost got involved in organizing for gun control measures following the 2018 Parkland school shooting and, if elected, would become the first Gen Z member of Congress. The 64-year-old Grayson, on the other hand, has served three non-consecutive terms in the House and mounted two unsuccessful Senate campaigns. He’s pretty much been running for some office since 2006.

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), chair of CHC BOLD PAC, said he’s “concerned” about Grayson’s candidacy.

“We know that polling is really tight, but we also know that Maxwell has got a lot of momentum on his side,” Gallego said. “You gotta remember [Frost] started with zero name ID, and now the last polling has him all tied.”

While the Congressional Black Caucus PAC hasn’t endorsed in the race, its chair — House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.) — is warning Democratic voters against electing Grayson:

“Our country is made better by having representatives who reflect our rich diversity. … Floridians deserve a representative who will fight for them and not just someone who wants to use their wealth to gain power.”

Grayson’s significant personal resources and high name ID may allow him to squeak through in the primary. The former member is centering his campaign on “lower tolls, lower taxes and lower rent.” Grayson mailers and yard signs are omnipresent in the district, according to people familiar with the race.

In response to Frost’s endorsement advantage, the Grayson campaign is sending mailers featuring glowing tributes from top Democrats like President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and more. None of these luminaries, however, have endorsed Grayson this cycle. And a quote from Speaker Nancy Pelosi is particularly roiling Frost backers.

“I love Alan Grayson,” the mailer reports Pelosi saying.

But omitted from the mailer is the context of a 2018 interview the speaker gave to the Tampa Bay Times. In that interview, Pelosi urges Grayson not to primary Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.)

“The speaker has not endorsed this race,” Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill said.

“It is incredibly deceptive. If you can only try to win by lying to your future constituents, it’s kind of sad, right?” senior CPC member Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) added. “And I just wish that Alan would not think about Alan for a change… unfortunately, some people are just very selfish.”

We asked Grayson about the use of these quotes in his campaign.

“Has [Pelosi] ever said that about Mark Pocan?” Grayson said, rejecting claims that the mailer is misleading. “I think that Pelosi chooses her words very carefully… I was in the trenches with Nancy Pelosi for six years. What has Maxwell Frost or any other candidate done that’s comparable to that?”

While Frost plays up a number of prominent local endorsements — including rising Democratic star state Rep. Anna Eskamani — other Florida Democrats are staying out of the 10th District primary.

“It’s a chaotic race. That’s all I have to say,” said Soto, who Grayson unsuccessfully primaried in 2018.

“I know just about every person on the Democratic side in that race,” Demings added. “My pastor is in that race, state senator [is] in that race, former members of Congress. So may the best man or woman win the primary and then it’s on to victory during the general.”

“We have the momentum,” Frost campaign manager Kevin Lata said.

Grayson, for his part, is unimpressed by Frost’s endorsement record.

“[Frost] regards that as being important because he recognizes that he needs to validate himself in some way, shape or form since he is 25 years old, and without any practical experience whatsoever in public office or even campaigning.”

— Max Cohen