Rudman Leaves Sour Aftertaste in District 3

Joel Rudman’s resignation from the Florida House District 3 seat was effective yesterday, and now the 7 bills he sponosored for 2025 have been withdrawn from further consideration, leaving him with a lackluster 4 for 21 record. He also gets a F for failing to work well with others, earning himself the nickname Joel Rude-man.

Reporters across the state are calling out Rudman for filing the latest bills, knowing he would not be able to run them since his resignation was effective prior to their introduction. “All of these bills are now dead,” Politico Reporter Gary Fineout said.

“To garner publicity for his congressional campaign, State Rep. Joel Rudman made several press annoucements about bills he was filing in the Florida House. All of those bills were withdrawn today,” stated radio talk show host Rick Outzen, owner and publisher of Inweekly.

Rudman will be remembered for his attention-seeking behavior, such as wearing black fingernail polish on the House floor. But it was his “My Way or No Way” mistreatment of constituents, fellow elected officials, and others which leaves the worst aftertaste for District 3:

Rudman blocked a fellow state legislator from being able to contact him via cell phone after they disagreed on an issue;
He made bigoted posts on social media;
He repeatedly mistreated female reporters across the state;
He aligned himself with community agitators, enflaming their divisiveness in District 3;
He also blocked constituents on social media after they questioned him or voiced opposition to his position on issues like expanding Medicaid in Florida or incorporating Navarre. Quite frankly, he has a very fragile ego and cannot stand even the smallest measure of doubt or criticism.

Rudman tried hard to push incorporating Navarre, and when county commissioners rejected a non-binding referendum on the matter, he attacked them and supported paid polling by a pro-incorporation group. Navarre residents, expressing opposition to the higher taxes and more government regulation incorporation would create, soundly defeated that effort, making it the second time incorporation failed and leaving Rudman with egg on his face.

Additionally, Rudman made piss-poor decisions when it came to endorsing candidates for office, selecting Ginger Pace, Angie Straughn, Jerry Couey, Carolina Amesty and Oscar Locklin – all of whom lost their bids, making his support akin to the kiss of death for candidates.

Rudman, a native of Mississippi, resigned the District 3 seat to run for Florida’s 1st Congressional seat, which was vacated by Matt Gaetz. However, out of the 10 Republicans vying for that seat, incoming U.S. President Donald J. Trump has endorsed Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, a native of Northwest Florida, for the job. Patronis also earned endorsements from Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, Santa Rosa Sheriff Bob Johnson, Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden, Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson, and U.S. House Majority Leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Whip Tom Emmer.

As far as replacing Rudman in the state legislature, another special election will take place. The dates of that D3 special election have not yet been announced but so far 5 Republicans have signed up to run in that race: