Alan Grayson's ex-lobbyist girlfriend may seek his House seat
As Florida Rep. Alan Grayson mulls a Senate campaign to the consternation of national Democrats, his girlfriend is quietly preparing her own bid to succeed Grayson in the House, POLITICO has learned.
Grayson’s girlfriend Dena Minning, a self-described “biotechnology entrepreneur” who has an MD and a Ph.D in biochemistry, has reached out to at least one Democratic-leaning group and clearly expressed her interest in running for the post, according to a message shown to POLITICO on the condition it not publish the contents or name the organization.
Two sources close to Grayson and a third Democratic source with knowledge of the situation confirmed that Minning has expressed interest in running for Grayson’s House seat, Florida’s Ninth Congressional District.
The outspoken Grayson and Minning have repeatedly declined to comment about her potential bid, despite a week’s worth of telephone calls, text messages and emails to both of them. Grayson did find time on Monday, however, to issue an angry response to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s decision to back fellow Rep. Patrick Murphy’s Senate bid — an unsubtle reminder that Grayson would be defying the party’s wishes if he challenges Murphy for the Democratic nomination.