ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Democratic Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has filed papers to run for Florida governor, joining a crowded field of contenders from both sides of the aisle hoping to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Demings, who leads the county that is home to Orlando and its multiple theme park resorts, filed papers to run for Florida’s highest office on Friday, according to state elections records.

The former Orange County sheriff learned the ins-and-outs of a statewide race in Florida three years ago when his wife, former U.S. Rep. Val Demings, unsuccessfully ran as the Democratic nominee for a U.S. Senate seat against Republican Marco Rubio.

If successful, Demings would be the first African American governor of the third most populous U.S. state, though not

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