Adam Barringer Exits CD 6 Race, Backs Fred Costello

Former New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer announced on Thursday he would bow out of the race to replace U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., in Congress and threw his support behind state Rep. Fred Costello, R-Ormond Beach. 

"When I learned that Fred Costello and David Santiago were both going to join this race it became clear to me that a divided Volusia County  would hand the election over to someone from out of the district,” Barringer said on Thursday. “For the first time since 1992 Volusia/Flagler accounts for over 70 percent of the  constituency of District Six. We need a united Volusia County in the Republican primary to win the general election and we cannot allow a 'carpetbagger' to come in and steal this election. Accordingly, I am announcing that I will no longer be a candidate for Congress and I am putting my full  support behind a fellow business owner and former Ormond Beach mayor, state Representative Dr. Fred Costello.  

“Fred is the best conservative Republican candidate from Volusia County to represent us in the U.S. House,” Barringer added. “I urge all of my supporters, donors, those who signed my petitions or endorsed my candidacy to join me in backing  Fred Costello for Congressional District Six."