The environment in Tallahassee will be much more peaceful next year. Scott Randolph will not be seeking re-election to the Florida House. He made the announcement this morning.

There will be no pink buttons with “Uterus” on the house floor next year. The office supplies of his Democratic colleagues will be safe. No more one man, Shakespearean rants on the Florida Channel with a hostage audience of lawmakers, texting dinner plans back and forth. Nope, Randolph is passing.

Wait, I need a moment.

Okay, let’s continue.

Randolph will instead seek the position of Florida Democratic Party Chair, which is a find endeavor for him, it could bring some energy back to a tired organization that isn’t so much charging into the election year as it briskly walking forward. But, Randolph does tend to go to far sometimes with his rhetoric and that could become a liability in that position. He will also work with other activists to take back the Governors mansion in 2014, with Scott’s low approval numbers that is going to be a very competitive race. Still, outside of the capitol you’re just another protester in the crowd and his reach will be limited.

As far as the other Democrats in the state house, they might as well skip next session altogether. They just lost their enforcer, their legislative goon, their “look at me!” guy that kept Floridians from forgetting the party has a presence there to begin with. This is a huge loss for them.

Randolph will instead endorse former Orange County Commissioner Linda Stewart, who is a thoughtful lawmaker that will be a fine ambassador in the general election and could win with the President on the ballot.

But, she ain’t going to throw your pen in the garbage and threaten your political career.

I’m sure we’ll hear from Randolph again very soon but it won’t be from an elected post and that will change the dynamic of the political conversation in Central Florida.

Randolph will not seek re-election and will try to become the next chairman of the Florida Democratic Party