Congressman Ron DeSantis said he knows he’ll have to work hard to get enough name recognition to win Marco Rubio’s senate seat. DeSantis is the first major republican vying for the seat.

DeSantis said both parties have failed in Washington, and he’ll run on a pro-reform platform. DeSantis represents a northeastern corner of the state that includes parts of Volusia County.

The other major candidate is South Florida’s democratic congressman Patrick Murphy. DeSantis says they’ll both have to work for statewide name recognition. “Well, when you’re one congressman, you’re not going to have that,” he said, “and so all the candidates who are discussing running or have announced are in the same boat. So you got to earn it.”

Supporters are urging Republican Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera to run for Rubio’s senate seat, and democratic Congressman Alan Grayson says it’s likely he’ll jump into the race.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is endorsing Congressman Patrick Murphy in the race for Marco Rubio’s seat. The endorsement comes as Congressman Alan Grayson considers a run for the seat as well.

In the endorsement, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Sen. Jon Tester called Murphy one of the party’s most promising rising stars. Grayson responded to the endorsement saying, Florida voters will pick the nominee, “not out-of-touch party bosses sipping cognac in smoke-filled rooms in Washington DC.”

Marco Rubio’s seat has been up for grabs since Rubio announced his run for president. Murphy’s already in, and Grayson says he’ll announce his intentions in the next 30 days. Florida democrats are split between Murphy, a former Republican, and Grayson, a liberal firebrand.

Republicans Pam Bondi and Jeff Atwater polled well, but neither is running, leaving the republican side of the ticket without a candidate.