Voter guide to the Congressional District 2 Democratic Primary

James Call | Tallahassee Democrat

Show Caption Hide Caption Watch it: Candidates Brandon Peters, Bob Rackleff meet with the Editorial Board Democratic candidates for the primary election for U.S. House, District 2 – Brandon Peters and Bob Rackleff.

Congressional District 2 Democratic Primary

Who can vote: Registered Democratic voters in 66 Leon precincts and 18 other Panhandle counties.

What is next: Winner faces Congressman Neal Dunn in November. Dunn has no opponent in the Republican primary.

What it pays: $174,000

More: Congressional District 2 primary hopefuls face long odds to get over Dunn | Our opinion

Brandon Peters

Age: 50

Profession: Attorney and mediator

Qualifications: Practiced law for 26 years, taught at Florida A&M University College of Law, and works as a mediator.

Q: What is the pivotal issue that will determine this race?

Peters: Health care, plain and simple. Many Americans are struggling to make ends meet, and the stories I hear of people filing bankruptcy after a trip to the emergency room are very discouraging. That’s why I’m a proud supporter of single-payer health care known as “Medicare for All.”

Q: What is the one thing you want to accomplish in the next term of Congress?

Peters: I will fight for infrastructure improvements throughout this district, including better roads, and extensive railway system, national airports, and broadband Internet service for our rural communities. Those are investments that will create good jobs and help working families prosper.

Bob Rackleff

Age: 74

Profession: Speechwriter and corporate consultant

Qualifications: Served three terms as a Leon County Commissioner and then as a speechwriter for Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and as a consultant for corporate and nonprofit entities.

Q: What is the pivotal issue that will determine this race?

Rackleff: Turn back Neal Dunn’s attacks Medicare and Social Security — ensuring the long-term health of these programs. Oppose Dunn’s support for raising the minimum age for both programs to age 70. Expand Medicaid in Florida. Adopt affordable health care for all, beginning with Medicare for All.

Q: What is the one thing you want to accomplish in the next term of Congress?

Rackleff: Strengthen the safety net that helps working families get through hard times; many here are still hurting. These include affordable housing, nutrition program, job training and placement, unemployment assistance, targeted student loan forgiveness, veterans programs, and children’s programs — paired with repealing the 2017 tax cuts for corporations and the richest Americans — to restore fairness to our tax system and reduce the explosive growth of our national debt.