Kendrick Meek (Getty)

Democratic state Sen. Dan Gelber announced Saturday he has dropped his candidacy for Florida’s open-seat Senate contest, leaving Democratic Rep. Kendrick B. Meek as the only major candidate for the Democratic nomination.

But that clear field for Meek may be just temporary. Corrine Brown , who like Meek is a member of Florida’s U.S. House delegation, stated over the weekend that she is exploring the possibility of running in next year’s race for the seat left open by retiring Republican Sen. Mel Martinez .  

A bid by Brown, who had not previously been widely mentioned as a potential Senate candidate, would pit two of Florida’s three African-American House members against each other. Brown and Meek have been House colleagues since the latter was first elected in 2002. He succeeded his mother, Carrie P. Meek , who was first elected to the House along with Brown in 1992.