Cong. Brown to run for newly re-drawn district

While she debates whether to continue her challenge of her newly re-drawn Congressional district, Corrine Brown will run to keep the seat regardless.

A federal court recently upheld Florida's new Congressional map over Brown's protest. She claims the new map hurts minority voters, but the federal panel said she didn't prove the case. The new map changes the District so that it will run from Jacksonville to the West, rather than down to Orlando.

“I’m very disappointed in the Federal court’s decision earlier this week. Although I still maintain that the new congressional districts will be severely disadvantageous to minorities throughout the state of Florida, I intend to declare my candidacy for the newly drawn Congressional District Five of Florida,” Brown says in a statement.

Brown is still weighing options relating to the future of her redistricting challenge. With the federal court’s ruling, her only remaining option will be taking the case to the Supreme Court.

"I have a lot of unfinished business to address in Washington, and I look forward to providing a strong voice in Congress for the citizens in the new 5^th Congressional District," Brown says.

The ongoing redistricting fight is only one of several challenges Brown is currently juggling.

The House Ethics Committee formed a panel to investigate allegations, including using campaign funds for personal reasons, improperly soliciting charitable donations, and more. That probe was put on hold, though, per the request of the Department of Justice. The DOJ declined to say why they asked for the panel to defer its action.

The head of a group Brown had promoted as a charity has also pled guilty to wire fraud relating to using donations for personal expenses. Carla Wiley implicates two other people, including an unnamed public official, in the plea. She further agreed, in court documents, to cooperate with the ongoing federal investigation.

Brown has declined to comment on the pending Ethics investigation and her ties to "One Door For Education", other than to say she is "clean".

Several candidates have already filed to run against Brown, including Democrats LaShonda Holloway and Alfred Lawson and Republicans Thuy Lowe and Glo Smith.