Ron DeSantis won the Republican primary for an open congressional seat in 2012 by running as a conservative, stressing his military service, attacking career politicians and nailing down St. Johns County. Now that DeSantis is running for the Senate, a potential contender could be using the same strategy.
Mark Miner has expressed interest in running for Congress and he is, somewhat, in the position DeSantis was during the 2012 election. Much like DeSantis, Miner is still in his 30s and has a military background, having served in Iraq. Miner lacks the current incumbent’s credentials as a constitutional scholar and Ivy League pedigree. Just like DeSantis successfully did in 2012, Miner is breaking to the right as he considers running, especially on national security issues. That’ll play well in the district, especially the northern part of it.
There’s a major difference between where DeSantis was when he first ran for Congress and where Miner is: political experience. DeSantis had never run for office before setting his eyes on Congress while Miner was on the St. Johns County Commission and, afterward, went to Army flight school.
If he runs, Miner should be strong in St. Johns County which is the heart of the district, just like DeSantis did in 2012. It’s been Miner’s home base for 15 years and he went to high school in the district. That’s not something some of the other candidates can claim. Sandy Adams represented the southern part of the district during her term in Congress and she is leaving behind her Seminole County base to try to get back to Washington. John Rutherford is also parachuting into the race after 12 years as Duval County sheriff.
Miner will have serious competition in St. Johns County despite his ties to the area. Doc Renuart is looking at running and, if he enters, he will be playing up his military service and work on behalf of veterans. Like Miner, Renuart will be strong in St. Johns County. So will Rutherford. While he has been based in Jacksonville, Rutherford is well-known in St. Johns County, especially in Ponte Vedra. If she runs, Beverly Slough, who took third in the Republican primary back in 2012 against DeSantis, will also be using St. Johns County as a base.
If he runs, Miner might be able to check a lot of the boxes DeSantis did only four years before in the primary. Miner could follow the same game plan DeSantis did though, admittedly, this looks like it could be a far more competitive race next year. Regardless, while he isn’t the big name that Adams or Rutherford is, Miner shouldn’t be overlooked in what is increasingly becoming one of the more interesting congressional races in Florida.
Tallahassee political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis exclusively for Sunshine State News.
