Musical seats game on as Joe Garcia jumps in FL26 race

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Looks like Annette Taddeo won’t have to worry about Andrew Korge, son of Democratic fundraising powerhouse Chris Korge, running against her in the congressional primary for District 26.

Because he got scared away by Joe Garcia.

So, now all Taddeo has to contend with is the former Congressman, a one-time friend and ally, who has apparently decided to run for his old seat. I know, I know. So soon? Garcia likes to make a grand entrance at the very end, ala 2012 when he basically usurped Gloria Romero Roses, who had been working for months for the nomination in an open field, by announcing in May.

But on Wednesday, Garcia proved the rumbling rumors and thumbed his nose at the Democratic Party again and, setting off a domino effect of political musical chairs, said he was officially in. Which is why Taddeo has promoted a bunch of endorsements lately, including former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, three electeds in Florida City and the SEIU labor union.

Martinez’s nod is particularly interesting, not because he has any real sway with the voters in Kendall, South Dade and Monroe but because his son used to work for Garcia in Washington.

The showdown promises to be epic. Taddeo — who was already having trouble raising funds from the same sources that gave to Garcia and Clinton — is going to lose some of her supporters to Garcia. They share a lot of friends.

So do Garcia and the Korges, which could be why Andrew Korge is likely moving his name and his money — we hear Papi has a PAC somewhere with half a mil in it — to a State Senate race in the new open seat where Sen. Anitere Flores is running and which went blue in 2012.

And since both districts leaned Democrat in 2012 for Barrack Obama would she still move?

Because las malas lenguas say that was part of the deal struck for Flores — who was drawn into District 40 with Sen. Dwight Bullard, a Democrat, in redistricting: Move to District 39 and don’t run against Bullard, in what could arguably be a Hispanic seat, and the Democrats would reciprocate by not running anyone against her in what could be a contested seat with Hillary at the top of the ballot. Three years ago, Barack Obama won District 39 with 53% of the vote.

It’s odd that the Dems would so easily give up what could be a gain this year.

And, apparently, the Korges didn’t get the memo anyway. Andy announced Wednesday that he was switching races — yet again (he had first filed to run in the seat now occupied by Sen. Gwen Margolis).

“I’m running because we need new leadership in the Florida Senate,” said Korge.  Yeah, except yesterday he was saying the same thing about Washington.

Would Korge’s entry break the deal? Or does this provide Flores with the excuse she needs to get out of state politics and start campaigning for the Miami-Dade Commission, which is where some say the young mom really wants to be?

Will we see other Democrats or Republicans jump in. Already State Rep. Frank Artiles will challenge Bullard in what is a highly Hispanic seat with large swaths of Flores’ old district.

Both the Artiles and the Korge moves were predicted in the last few days by observers — but all of it based on Garcia’s move. It is no coincidence they all announced the same day.

Stay tuned, voters, as we get ready for the next episode of musical seats.

  Andrew Korge, Anitere Flores, Annette Taddeo, Dwight Bullard, Frank Artiles, Joe Garcia