Florida gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., resigned his seat in Congress on Monday to focus on his campaign.
DeSantis sent a letter to U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., resigning the seat he first won in 2012.
"As the Republican nominee for governor of Florida, it is clear to me that I will likely miss the vast majority of our remaining session days for this Congress. Under these circumstances, it would be inappropriate for me to accept a salary," DeSantis wrote.
DeSantis insisted he would not be able to focus on his congressional duties and resigned the seat effective as of September 1. As such, he will not be paid his congressional salary for September.
Looking back at his six years in the House, DeSantis pointed with pride to his efforts to move the U.S. embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, lowering taxes and his work on behalf of veterans.
With the support of President Donald Trump, DeSantis routed Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in the Republican primary last month. He will face Democratic candidate Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in November.
DeSantis claimed an open congressional seat in 2012, representing parts of the First Coast and Northeast Florida. Redistricting moved DeSantis slightly to the south though he continues to represent the Atlantic coast from the southern parts of St. Johns County down to Volusia County.
In 2014, DeSantis easily won a second term and started running for the U.S. Senate held by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. However when Rubio announced at the last moment that he would run for a second term in the Senate, DeSantis switched back to defend his House seat and won a third term.
Polls show a close contest between DeSantis and Gillum. Republican Michael Waltz and Democrat Nancy Soderberg are running for the seat DeSantis held.
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