Today, Republican Dean Black officially announced his candidacy for the newly created State House seat in Northeast Florida, District 15, in Nassau County and the north and westsides of Duval County.

Black offered the following statement on his candidacy:

“Northeast Florida needs strong, proven and dependable conservative leaders fighting for our values in Tallahassee. I will be a Representative that stands on a strong America First agenda: Supporting the Constitution, limited government, the right to bear arms, personal liberty, low taxes, school choice and defending our brave men and women in law enforcement.”

This announcement ends months of speculation about Black’s next move, including raising over $170,000 into his personal political committee, True Conservatives. Previous contributors include Duval County Clerk of Court Jody Phillips, St. Johns County Clerk of Court Brandon Patty, former Representative Jay Fant, Ronnie Fussell, Deno Hicks, Judson Sapp, Bill Watson and a political committee affiliated with Congressman John Rutherford.