UPDATED: Rouson has made it official Friday, though he reserves the right to jump back to the race for his House seat if redistricting isn't favorable for the Senate.

He quipped: "Yeah dude, I ain't stupid."

And there's a new name in the game for his current seat: former St. Petersburg administrator Goliath "Go" Davis.

State Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, is expected to file by Thursday to run for Florida Senate. This year he has been sizing up filing for the seat that Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island, is leaving due to term limits, though that district will likely change with redistricting.

But already, state Rep. Jim Frishe, R-St Petersburg, and former lawmaker Leslie Waters of the Seminole City Council are running.

Bay Buzz hears the filing will be Thursday, though Rouson would only say: "It’s under consideration but I haven’t done it yet." Keyword: yet.

Rouson's campaign will open up a House seat -- assuming it stick in redistricting a county will falling population -- and Rene Flowers and Rick Davis, among others, are mentioned as possible candidates.