State Rep. Darryl Rouson, a St. Petersburg Democrat, announced Monday that he is in the running for House Speaker in 2014.

But given that Democrats are outnumbered 82-38 in the House — with few chances the balance will change dramatically in November — it’s more likely Rouson is angling to succeed Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, as minority leader.

Rouson was first elected in a special election in April 2008, giving him a few months seniority on members of the class entering the Legislature that fall. For the past two years, Rouson has been the Democrats’ ranking member on the budget committee overseeing the courts and criminal justice.

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