Two Northwest Florida Republican legislators have announced their candidacy to represent Florida’s 1st Congressional District, following the resignation of U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was selected by incoming President Donald J. Trump to serve as U.S. Attorney General. House District 1 Rep. Michelle Salzman and House District 3 Rep. Joel Rudman must resign their current positions 10 days before qualifying for the special election begins.
According to Florida Politics, Rudman has referred to himself as the “heir apparent” for the Congressional seat. However, he recently almost lost Precinct 40 in Santa Rosa County to Democrat Keith Gillum, who came within 3 votes of winning that precinct, although Rudman performed well in other precincts and won by a supermajority. Many blame the tight race in Precinct 40 on Rudman’s strong pro-incorporation stance. Ultimately, an Oct. 12 straw poll funded by the pro-incorporation group Preserve Navarre showed Navarre residents oppose incorporation more strongly now than they did during the last poll, which took place in 2014.
Salzman, a U.S. Army veteran, was just elected to her third term in the House District 1 seat and announced she has received more than $250,000 in pledges toward her campaign for Gaetz’s vacated seat.
A special election will take place for their current seats in the Florida House.
Other candidates who have annouced their bid for the Congressional seat include:
- Former Army Captain John Frankman;
- Former Gaetz Military Affairs Director and wounded Air Commando Nate Nelson
- Attorney Keith Gross, who ran against Gaetz, losing in the Aug. 20 primary.
Details of the upcoming special elections, which will include primary and general elections, are expected to be announced soon.
