In a Central Florida throw-down, Rep. John Mica said Wednesday night he will run for re-election in the 7th Congressional District, pitting him against freshman GOP Rep. Sandy Adams.
The 10-term congressman, who lives in Winter Park, was zoned out of his current district by reapportionment.
Adams, R-Orlando, announced last week that she would run for re-election in CD 7, but Mica held off, saying he would wait for the Legislature to finalize the district boundaries.
With the Senate meeting Thursday to review its reapportionment maps, Mica decided he would stand and fight Adams for the GOP nomination -- rather than move to neighboring CD 6, where there is no incumbent.
Mica spokesman Alan Byrd said, "John Mica has represented the 7th Congressional District for the last 20 years" and estimated that "more than half" of the voters in the newly drawn district have been the lawmaker's constituents.
Some had speculated that Mica, who chairs the House Transportation Committee, might shift to CD 6, which runs northeast of Orlando to include Daytona Beach up to Flagler and St. Johns counties.
Businessman Craig Miller, who had been campaigning for U.S. Senate, dropped out of that race last week to file for the GOP nomination in CD 6.
He is the first and only Republican to file for that race so far.
Reached earlier Thursday by Sunshine State News in Ormond Beach, Miller said he didn't expect Mica would run there.
"I figured he would run in his home district in Winter Park, where he's lived for many, many years," Miller said.
Recalling that he carried Volusia County by a "nice margin" against Adams in his 2010 congressional bid, the former Ruth's Chris CEO said his longtime business dealings in CD 6's coastal communities make him a logical choice there.
Adams, who had announced her intentions for CD 7 within hours of Miller filing for CD 6, was not available for comment Wednesday night.
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
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