In House District 10, Chase Brannan is looking to succeed his father, term-limited Rep. Chuck Brannan.

Standing in his way is Republican Primary opponent Marshall Rawson, a Hampton citrus farmer.

Democrat Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson will face the winner in November, though the rural district is heavily Republican, covering northern Alachua County and all of Baker, Bradford, Columbia and Union counties.

Florida Politics asked all candidates to answer a few questions. We are publishing their responses unedited so voters can hear directly from candidates. Here’s what Brannan told us:

— Profession: I’m a small-business owner in residential real estate and property management; before that, I served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Florida Department of Financial Services under Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, Political Director for CFO Patronis’ 2022 reelection campaign, Regional Field Director in North Central Florida for Governor Ron DeSantis’ 2022 reelection campaign, coordinated federal relations in Governor DeSantis’ Federal Relations Office, and served as a Florida Gubernatorial Fellow at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation during COVID-19 in 2020.

— Education: I graduated from Baker County High School and went on to Florida Gateway College, where I earned my Associate of Arts degree magna cum laude and served as Student Senate President. From there, I transferred to the University of Florida and earned my bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education and Communication, specializing in Communication and Leadership Development, with a minor in Sales and Management in Agribusiness. While at UF, I represented the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in the Student Senate, served on the Budget and Appropriations Committee, served as Secretary of Florida Blue Key, and was selected as a J. Wayne Reitz Scholar.

— Years in the district: My entire life. I was born and raised in Baker County, and this has been home since day one. My family has roots in North Florida going back eight generations, so my connection to this area runs a lot deeper than just where I live today. This is where I grew up, went to school, raised livestock, built my business, and where I plan to stay.

— Community involvement: I grew up in 4-H and FFA, raising and showing cattle and hogs at local fairs, and later earned the American FFA Degree. Agriculture is still a big part of my life through my involvement with the Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, Florida Forestry Association, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. I’m also a member of the Macclenny Lions Club and have spent years supporting local livestock exhibitors, youth programs, county fairs, and scholarships for students back home. I believe strongly in giving back to the same communities that gave me the opportunities I’ve had.

— Why are you running? What are your top priorities if elected? I’m running because this is home. I grew up here, went to school here, raised livestock here, and learned pretty early that nobody is going to hand you anything. You work for it.

I’ve also had the opportunity to work inside the state government and see how Tallahassee works. I’ve seen firsthand what a difference it makes when a community has somebody fighting for its fair share, especially rural communities that simply don’t have the tax base or resources of Jacksonville, Orlando or South Florida.

My priorities are pretty simple: keep taxes low, support law enforcement and our correctional officers, strengthen our schools and career education programs, protect agriculture and private property rights, improve our roads and infrastructure, and make sure rural communities aren’t forgotten when the state budget gets written. I also want to make sure growth does not come at the expense of our water, farmland, or way of life.

I want to take the experience I’ve gained and put it to work for the place that made me who I am.

— What are the biggest challenges facing the district, and what can you realistically do about them if elected? One of our biggest challenges is that we have big needs without big-city dollars.

Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Union and northern Alachua County still need good roads, strong schools, fire stations, law enforcement, clean water and infrastructure, but we don’t have the tax base that larger counties have. That means our representative has to know how to fight for these communities in the state budget and make sure rural Florida is not treated like an afterthought.

I’ve worked with legislators, state agencies, sheriffs, county commissioners and local governments across Florida. I understand how the appropriations process works and how to get people around the table to solve problems. That experience matters when we are fighting for roads, public safety, schools and other needs back home.

At the same time, we have to grow the right way. I don’t want us to trade away our farms, forests, water and rural way of life for overdevelopment that never really benefits the people who live here.

— The cost of groceries, gas, housing and utilities is top of mind for voters right now. What specific policies do you propose to make life more affordable for constituents? Government can’t magically control the price of everything, but it sure can make things more expensive if we aren’t careful.

I want to keep taxes low, cut unnecessary fees and regulations, and make sure the state government lives within its means. I support real property-tax relief, but we have to do it in a way that doesn’t leave fiscally constrained counties unable to pay sheriff deputies, firefighters or maintain roads.

We also have to keep working on property insurance, increase the supply of attainable housing and expand career and technical education so somebody can graduate, learn a trade and make a good living without taking on a mountain of college debt. We should also make sure families are not forced to shoulder higher utility costs because of massive new users of electricity and water.

Before Tallahassee spends another dollar or passes another mandate, somebody ought to ask what it is going to cost the family trying to make ends meet back home.

— What kind of Republican would you say you are? Are there any labels you feel suit you? I’d call myself a constitutional conservative and MAGA.

I believe in limited government, low taxes, the Second Amendment, protecting life, parental rights, strong law enforcement, secure borders, and private property rights.

But I also think being conservative means being responsible with other people’s money and remembering that the government works for the taxpayer, not the other way around. Government shouldn’t spend a dollar just because it can.

I’m not going to Tallahassee looking for an opportunity to be something I’m not. I’m a local that wants to help. I want to do the work, bring results home, and answer the phone when somebody in this district needs help.

That’s the kind of Republican I am.

— Is there a place for data centers anywhere in Florida, or should other states host the infrastructure that powers AI? I’m against massive hyperscale data centers being dropped into rural Florida.

I understand technology is changing and AI isn’t going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean we sacrifice our water, electric grid, farmland and rural communities to power it. These facilities can consume enormous amounts of electricity and water while creating relatively few permanent jobs once construction is finished. Then the people who already live there are left wondering whether their utility bills, water supply or quality of life are going to pay the price.

There may be places in Florida with the infrastructure and industrial footprint to handle certain facilities, but that should never be an excuse to force them into communities that do not want them or cannot support them.

For this district, my answer on hyperscale data centers is no. Our water and agricultural land are too important, and once you lose that rural character, you don’t get it back.

— Why are you the best candidate to represent this district? Because I know this district and I know how the state government works.

I was born and raised here. I grew up raising cattle and hogs, showing animals at the fair and being involved in 4-H and FFA. These aren’t communities I discovered because I decided to run for office. They’re home. I understand the challenges families, farmers, small businesses, and local governments here face because I’ve lived around them my entire life.

At the same time, I’ve spent years learning how the Florida government actually works. I’ve served in the Governor’s Office, worked at the Department of Financial Services, worked with the Legislature and state agencies, and built relationships with state and local leaders across Florida. I understand budgets, agencies, and how to get things done.

I’ve also worked campaigns from the ground up, so I know politics still comes down to talking to people, listening and earning their trust.

I’m not running because I need a title. I’m running because I want to put everything I’ve learned to work for the community that gave me so much.

I know where I come from, I know how Tallahassee works, and I’m ready to go to work on day one.