Two lawyers face off in GOP state attorney primary as DeSantis’ actions make for unusual race
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Two lawyers are facing off in the Republican primary for Central Florida’s top prosecutor, looking for a chance to challenge not only the Democratic candidate but also GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis’ hand-picked state attorney.
It’s an unusual political dynamic made possible by Andrew Bain’s decision to run as a no-party candidate for the job of Orange-Osceola state attorney. DeSantis catapulted Bain to the post in August when he suspended Democrat Monique Worrell, who is running to regain her seat.
Though DeSantis appointed Bain, two Republicans — Seth Hyman and Thomas Feiter — are also in the race. The winner of the Aug. 20 primary will appear on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, along with Bain and Worrell.
Hyman, 48, served as an assistant state attorney in Orange and Osceola from 2014 to 2017 and then launched his own firm. Hyman was fired from the state attorney’s office after his boss concluded he made “poor judgment decisions” as a prosecutor by withholding evidence that could potentially clear criminal defendants.
Hyman denied any ethical wrongdoing and called his termination a politically motivated move by former Democratic State Attorney Aramis Ayala’s administration because of his tough prosecutorial philosophy.
He filed to run for state attorney in January 2023 before DeSantis suspended Worrell. He’s been endorsed by the local Orange and Osceola Republican parties.
“I have been in the race for a very long time,” Hyman said. “I decided to run because I was so unhappy with what I saw in the state attorney’s office run by Monique Worrell.”
Hyman said he “completely” agreed with DeSantis’ decision to suspend Worrell from office and called the move “wholly and totally lawful.” DeSantis accused Worrell of neglect of duty and not aggressively prosecuting crime, allegations that she denied. Worrell’s case is pending before the Florida Senate, which is charged with upholding or overturning the governor’s suspensions.
Hyman is campaigning as a law-and-order Republican who will take a tough stance on crime and work collaboratively with law enforcement.
Feiter, 46, also has experience working as an assistant state attorney. He founded the Fighter Law firm in 2011.
He jumped into the race in February, vowing to establish a merit-based office emphasizing professional, ethical behavior over politics. Feiter said he, too, would have suspended Worrell if she neglected her duties, but he added he’s not in “possession of all of the facts.” He said he has concerns about the optics of the suspension, and the governor injecting himself into the Orange-Osceola state attorney’s office.
“I do not think positions of authority like this should go to somebody just because they kissed the ring of the governor,” he said. “It should be earned on the merits. It should be somebody who is independent and not in bed with the governor or the people who have power.”
On the campaign trail, Feiter has raised questions about Hyman’s qualifications, citing his termination.
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Meanwhile, Feiter has come under fire from Republicans for courting Democratic support. He touted an endorsement from Deborah Barra, a Democrat and former chief assistant state attorney who wrote the investigative memo that led to Hyman’s termination.
The candidates share similar views on some issues. Both said they would prosecute juveniles as adults in some cases and both support specialized courts, such as mental health and veteran courts.
But they offered differing opinions on other topics.
At a candidate forum, Feiter said his Christian faith doesn’t allow him to support the death penalty, but he’d enforce it because it’s the law. Hyman said in a social media post he supports the death penalty for the “most horrific murderers,” adding that “surviving family and friends deserve justice.”
They also disagree on technology with Feiter saying the state attorney’s office needs a tech upgrade incorporating the “appropriate” use of artificial technology, while Hyman said he doesn’t support AI and is an “old-school type of guy.”
The Republican nominee will likely face an uphill battle in Democratic-friendly Orange and Osceola in the Nov. general election.
Worrell won election in 2020 with nearly 66% of the vote.
