While the growing Republican field of congressional candidates continues to grow in Florida’s 18th congressional district-setting up what could be a very contentious primary race in 2016 the Democrat king-makers in Washington, D.C., who seem hell-bent to avoid a potentially bloody primary race, may have already decided on a candidate to throw their support behind, Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay.
The Democrat establishment has already embraced Rep. Patrick Murphy, who announced he would not be running for re-election in CD 18, as their Senate candidate to replace Senator Marco Rubio.Now House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) has settled on McKinlay, as have Florida Democrat state legislators, State Sens. Joe Abruzzo and Jeff Clemens.
McKinlay has just become the newest target for Republicans. I can only imagine the Pelosi-clone attack ads against her.
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The Democrats may have decided on McKinlay perhaps because they feel that the young mother of three, who just won her county commission seat race in November 2014, could become the next Rep. Gwen Graham (D).
Graham won her 2014 congressional race against incumbent Rep. Steve Southerland by the closest of margins by running as moderate, when in fact she was significantly more liberal.
Can a woman like McKinlay bring on a second congressional lightning strike for Democrats in another one of Florida’s Republican-leaning congressional district?If someone like McKinlay becomes the Democrat Party’s nominee in this congressional district, which some believe is almost assured with local and national Democrats backing her candidacy, which Republican from the ever-growing field of D.C. insiders, carpet-baggers, local no-name elected officials, and injured military veterans will make it out of the Republican primary to challenge McKinlay?
Unlike Democrats, Republicans, for the most part, stay out of contested primary races like this one and allow the political process to run its course.
This has not always been the case. Anyone remember when the establishment Republicans in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. tried to crown then-Republican Governor Charlie Crist as the Republican nominee in the open Florida U.S. Senate seat in 2010?
The result of that ill-advised move by the Republican poobahs was then candidate-Marco Rubio eating both their lunch and dinner.
So who are these Republicans looking to run for congress in Florida’s 18th congressional district?
Announced Republican Congressional Candidates
Former State Rep. Carl Domino
The self-funding Domino, who currently has as string of election day losses, is considered to be a “Dud” by on sitting member of Florida’s congressional delegation after he lost by 20 points in the 2014 general election to Rep. Patrick Murphy (D).
Domino lost his 2010 State Senate Race, as well as his 2012 State House race, and of course as we mentioned, he lost his 2014 congressional race against Murphy.
Martin County School Board Member Rebecca Negron
Wife of State Senator Joe Negron.
St. Lucie County Commissioner Tod Mowery
According to Tod Mowery’s campaign website, Mowery ” has been an active competitive soccer coach, deacon in his church and regularly leads missions and humanitarian teams to Haiti. A licensed pilot, he serves on the Board for Missionary Flights, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy Board, the St. Lucie County Education Foundation Board, and is the Chairman of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council.” Seems like an all around nice guy.
Potential Republican Congressional Candidates
Former Secret Service Agent Dan Bongino
Bongino is Florida bound, and has already begun strategizing his congressional campaign with several local supporters. The New Yorker, who lives in Maryland is said to be moving to Florida over the summer to run for this congressional seat. Bongino, like Domino, has a current string of election night losses
In 2010, Bongino lost his Maryland U.S. Senate race, and in 2014, Bongino lost his congressional race against a very well-funded Democrat incumbent by the narrowest of margins.Bongino has nationwide appeal among the Tea Party types, and could make this race interesting, if he pulls the trigger tor run.
Former U.S. Special Operations veteran and Double-Amputee Brian Mast
Speaking of pulling the trigger. Brian Mast, a former bomb technician who lost both his legs while on a combat mission in Afghanistan, has been mulling over a run for Congress in Florida’s 22nd congressional district, but has recently announced that he is “strongly considering” a run in CD 18.
A Mast candidacy in this military-friendly district, not to mention his compelling story of survival and recover, will probably make him the sentimental favorite among all Republicans, many of whom feel that former military types make for better elected officials.
While Mast can deliver a great speech, he doesn’t have the political background that the other announced and potential GOP candidates in the race have. This could be an advantage for Mast, but we will have to wait and see where he stands on issues.
Counsel to Sen. Orrin Hatch William Castle
Castle was probably born with a silver spoon pressed up against the roof of his mouth, and could very well self-fund his soon-to-be announced congressional campaign. Castle, who considered to be the poster child for being a typical D.C. insider, and whose father bought the last Kennedy compound on Palm Beach for $7 million, is already talking to locals in the district about his potential congressional run.
Castle is in, its just a matter of when the announcement comes down.
There are a couple of other names being thrown around as possible Republican candidates, but because this is just background noise, why mention them.
Expect this race to be a focal point in the 2016 election cycle.
Read more about his race here.
