U.S. Rep. David Jolly continues to scoop up endorsements in his race for reelection.
On Tuesday, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leargest small business association, Jolly for his re-election campaign in Florida’s 13th Congressional District. NFIB represents small and independent businesses in all 50 states and aims to help small business owners to own and operate their business without “undue government interference” and has a membership of over 325,000 small business owners nationwide.
Jolly himself has been a small business owner but is an attorney by profession.
“Having operated small businesses himself, Congressman Jolly knows the difficulties business owners face with the federal government,” said national political director of NFIB Sharon Sussin. “He’s been a strong voice for small business and we want to see him back in the House next year. We need him to continue the fight against red tape and high taxes.”
Jolly said he was honored to receive NFIB’s blessing and pledged to continue the fight to further the group’s mission and help small businesses keep growing.
He also turned the group’s national mission to the Sunshine State and vowed to work on creating jobs for Floridians in small businesses.
“Florida’s economy depends on small businesses and entrepreneurs, which drive the development of local industry and create the good-paying jobs that build strong communities,” said Jolly. “As someone who has owned a small business and worked extensively in business development, I know that to encourage entrepreneurship and keep our economy strong, we must reduce bureaucratic red tape, reform our complex and ever-changing tax code, and streamline a regulatory system that stifles growth.”
Tuesday’s endorsement follows a variety of endorsements from various Republicans as well as statewide and national organizations, all of whom have given the Pinellas County congressman their seal of approval.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush jumped into the CD13 foray, endorsing Jolly for the seat earlier this month. U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., also endorsed Jolly.
The Republican congressman, who dropped out of the U.S. Senate race to run for re-election, will face off against Mark Bircher in the GOP primary, which he’s likely to win. Afterwards, he will battle against former Gov. Charlie Crist for the seat. Crist announced his campaign last year and is popular in Pinellas County, but Jolly is bound to give the former Republican-turned-Independent-turned-Democrat a run for his money.
Last week, Roll Call moved CD13 out of the “Safe Democratic” category to “Democrat favored,” saying recent polls show “a very competitive race.”
Many polls show Jolly and Crist neck-and-neck for the seat, while others show Crist with a lead over Jolly. The two candidates are scheduled to debate Sept. 19, three weeks after the Aug. 30 primary.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
