Jacksonville City Councilmember Terrance Freeman is stepping up to the plate for a Republican run at the Florida House of Representatives in District 12, he announced on social media.
"As a lifelong conservative, I know what’s at stake for Florida families. President Trump and Governor DeSantis need strong conservative allies fighting for us, and I am answering that call," Hunt declared. "I will always stand up for our values, our freedoms, and our hardworking families."
District 12 covers parts of Jacksonville in Duval County. The area is currently represented by Rep. Wyman Duggan, who is term-limited.
"The people of Northeast Florida deserve a representative who will always put their values first. I’m ready to stand in the fight for freedom, opportunity, and prosperity - and I will never waver in that mission," Freeman said.
Freeman was appointed to the City Council in 2018. He was later elected to a full term the following year and reelected with the highest vote total of any candidate in 2023.
In his early pitch to voters, Freeman promised to further reduce property taxes, an initiative he indicated was driven by his experience on the City Council.
"I delivered the first property tax cut in a decade and fought to ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely," Freeman said. "In Tallahassee, I’ll keep working to reduce the cost of living by cutting property taxes even further, eliminating wasteful fees and regulations, and giving our first responders the tools they need to succeed. Florida should always be a place where the American Dream is within reach."
Picking up on his announcement, Freeman was endorsed by the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) this week. The AIF is known as "The Voice of Florida Business” in the Sunshine State.
"Our state has so much to offer, but we must get the government out of the way so the private sector can continue to grow, innovate, and tackle important issues," Freeman said. "I am humbled and grateful to have @VoiceofFlzBiz's support as I embark on this journey."
Rep. Duggan won HD 12 over Democrat Benjamin Sandlin with 57% of the vote in 2024. If Freeman can get past the GOP primary, he appears to have a good chance of bringing his values to Tallahassee.
The HD 12 Republican primary is Aug. 18, 2026.
