Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, has officially filed to run for Congress, according to new information posted on the Federal Election Commission’s website.
Evers will run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, running for the seat in Florida’s first congressional district, which covers the western Panhandle area of the Sunshine State.
The first congressional district covers all of Escambia, Holmes, and Santa Rosa Counties and is the most Republican district in the entire state.
The district is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla, who has served in the position 2002.
Evers began serving in the Florida Legislature in 2001 after Miller ran in a special election following the resignation of former U.S. Congressman Joe Scarborough and narrowly defeated his Republican opponent in a special election to replace Miller.
Since then, Evers had overwhelming success in his subsequent reelection campaigns in the Florida House. In 2010, Evers ran for Senate, defeating his political opponents consistently. Evers ran unopposed in 2012 and 2014.
Evers is perhaps best known in the Florida Legislature for his commitment to Second Amendment issues and for defending gun rights in the Sunshine State.
Following the Marissa Alexander case, Evers penned the “warning shot” legislation which exempts certain acts of self-defense from mandatory sentences of 20 years of jail time if a gun is fired during certain felonies.
Evers also backed Florida’s “Pop Tart” legislation which prohibits schools from disciplining children playing with simulated weapons. The bill got its name from Evers’ quote where he said the proposal would prevent instances “where you chew a Pop Tart into the shape of a gun” and getting expelled from school.
Most recently, the Panhandle Senator sponsored legislation to allow concealed carry permit holders to bring their firearms onto college campuses in Florida. The legislation has consistently been one of the hottest issues since its initial introduction in 2014, but has had a difficult time making it through the halls of the Capitol, dying each session it’s been introduced.
Evers currently holds an “A+” rating with the National Rifle Association.
Current U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller is retiring and is currently not seeking reelection. Evers will face off against his fellow GOP contenders in the Republican Primary at the end of August.
The general election will be held Nov. 8.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
