Marshall Rawson, the Republican nominee for Florida House District 10, was identified in a report by Talking Points Memo on Monday, September 14, 2026, as having participated in the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The report, based on video and photographic evidence, states that Rawson marched alongside the League of the South, an organization described by civil rights groups as a white supremacist group advocating for Southern secession.
The 2017 Charlottesville rally was originally organized to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. During the event, counter-protester Heather Heyer was killed when James Alex Fields Jr. drove his vehicle into a crowd. Fields was later sentenced to life in prison in 2019 for federal hate crimes. According to the reporting, Rawson was photographed standing near Fields during the protest.
In response to the report, Rawson stated that he has been active throughout his adult life in defending historical monuments from destruction. In a May 2025 Facebook post, Rawson acknowledged involvement with the League of the South between 2013 and 2016, stating his participation was focused on protesting immigration policies, advocating for marriage, and defending monuments against "woke rioters and weak politicians."
The disclosure affects voters in Florida House District 10, where Rawson is the Republican nominee following his primary victory in August 2026. The district's residents will choose between Rawson and Democratic candidate Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson in the general election scheduled for November 2026. The report brings renewed focus to the backgrounds of candidates and their past associations with groups that advocate for the secession of Southern states.
For the residents of District 10, this information may influence their choice at the ballot box regarding who will represent their interests in the Florida House of Representatives. While the specific number of registered voters in the district was not reported, the outcome of this race will determine one of the 120 seats in the state house. Malwitz-Jipson has characterized the report as "extremely alarming" and argued that Rawson is unfit for office, while Rawson maintains his actions were centered on heritage and specific policy protests.
The report also highlights the debate regarding the removal of Confederate monuments, which Rawson has made a theme of his campaign platform. As local and state governments continue to decide the fate of these symbols, the backgrounds of those seeking to write state laws remain a point of public scrutiny. The next step in this process is the general election in November, which will serve as the final determination by voters on Rawson's candidacy following these reports.