Needing to pick up 39 seats to take control from the Democrats, Republicans are dreaming of picking up more U.S. House seats -- and Florida is in the front line of their effort to take the gavel from U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as they focus on four possibilities to pick up seats.
On Tuesday, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) named sixRepublican candidates across the nation, with three of those hailing from the Sunshine State, as part of their Young Guns program of outsiders looking to pick up congressional seats. The Young Guns are the candidates considered most likely to win in November.
The NRCC designated Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Oviedo, Steve Southerland and former House Speaker Dan Webster as Young Guns. Adams is taking on U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas. Southerland is running against U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd. Webster is challenging U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson. All three Republican candidates emerged after winning crowded primaries last week.
They join Republican congressional candidates Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, Dennis Ross and Allen West who were named Young Guns earlier in the year. Rivera and Ross are running for open seats currently held by Republican congressmen while West will take on U.S. Rep. Ron Klein.
The other candidates designated as Young Guns on Tuesday were Dan Benishek in Michigan, Chris Gibson in New York and Mike Kelly in Pennsylvania.
Americans are buried under mountains of debt and high unemployment, yet Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat majority have failed to offer sound solutions, said U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, chairman of the NRCC. Our Young Guns candidates will use commonsense ideas to put an end to the Democrats runaway spending spree that has led our nation into unprecedented debt and joblessness. With Novembers midterm elections quickly approaching, House Democrats are running scared with the knowledge that they will finally be held responsible for their failed economic agenda.
The latest Young Guns class is a testament to the strength of our candidates this year, said Republican Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia who helped form the program and backed Southerland in the primary. When these six Young Guns come to Washington as new members of Congress, they'll join our fight to change the culture of spending that the Democrat majority has forced on our country.
As America stands at a tipping point and in need of new solutions to cut the debt and grow jobs, we are excited to announce six strong candidates who have earned Young Gun status, said U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the NRCC recruitment chair. Fifty-two candidates have earned Young Gun status, which is more than enough seats needed to take back the majority.
To combat Washington's reckless spending and borrowing binge, the American people are in need of reinforcements in Congress, said U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. These six Young Guns will play a critical role in charting a new fiscal and economic course for our nation. We need a new generation of leaders that will fight to spur job creation now, lift our crushing debt burden, and reclaim the promise and prosperity of this great nation.
The Southerland team sent out a message to supporters, cheering the news. The NRCC has committed over $500K to fight for this seat and expect Team Southerland to raise the same amount, the Southerland campaign posted.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
