INVERNESS, Fla. (WFLA) — Former State Rep. Ralph Massullo has entered the race to fill the now-vacant state senate seat after Blaise Ingoglia was appointed Chief Financial Officer. District 11 covers Citrus, Hernando, and Sumter counties.

This is not the first time Massullo has had his eye on the senate seat. Back in 2022, he ended his bid following Gov. Ron DeSantis endorsing Ingoglia. Now that the seat is open again, Massullo has thrown his hat in the ring.

“We’re emphasizing workforce and career development. We’re incorporating AI into a lot of our services that the state is suing, as well as trying to incorporate that into workforce as well as education and also trying to improve health care,” Massullo said.

Massullo also said he wants to focus on improving the environment along with agriculture.

Massullo, who’s a dermatologist, has support from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier through a post on X and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, with an official endorsement.

“I’m extremely happy. I’m a small business owner myself. I’ve worked with the chamber for many years,” Massullo said.  

This week, Gov. DeSantis issued an executive order calling for a Special Primary Election on Sept. 30. So far, no democrats have entered the race. But if that happens, both sides will face off on Dec. 9. Candidate qualifying is Aug. 4 and Aug. 5. After that, voters officially know who will appear on the ballot for the Special Primary Election.

“I ask all of your viewers to investigate the various candidates that are running, particularly the ones that running in my district, and go out and vote,” Massullo said.

Massullo served in the Florida Legislature from 2016 to 2024, when he couldn’t run again to remain in the state House because of term limits.

The campaign for Republican Anthony Brice confirmed he will enter the race for the Special Election. He already had plans to run for the seat in 2028. However, with the vacancy, he will ramp up campaign efforts now ahead of September.