Neil Combee, who resigned from the Florida House last November when President Donald Trump's administration tapped him to direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency in Polk County, announced Tuesday he will run for the CD 15 seat U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross is vacating.
Combee, 58, a solid conservative in a district Trump won by 10 points in 2016 and Gov. Rick Scott by 9 points in 2014, says he was propelled into the race by his love of the Constitution and belief that the president needs help if he's going to get his agenda passed.
“I’m running for Congress to support the president, the president’s agenda and to make sure America succeeds," Combee told Sunshine State News. "This campaign is going to be about the promise of America. The promise of the American people. And how our great experiment in democracy and self-governance must not fail. That means protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States -- every bit of it. That means making sure only American laws are used inside an American courtroom. That means allowing someone to keep more of what they earn, not less.”
Combee, with a background in agribusiness and real estate, was a co-chairman of Sen. Ted Cruz's Florida campaign for president but wholeheartedly moved to Trump in 2016 when Cruz disappeared from the radar. "Neil never looked back after that," said one of his friends on the Cruz team from two years ago. "He was happy with Donald Trump."
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a more ardent supporter of the president than a fella he appointed," Combee said. "And, although I am grateful for his trust in that appointment, I feel I can support him, his vision and his agenda more passionately in the United States Congress. So, today I am announcing my candidacy for the United States Congress, District 15 and, with all your help and the blessings of God in heaven, we will get to work and get about the business of making America greater than it has ever been."
While in the Florida House in 2013, Combee sponsored legislation that would have "[prevented] someone who fires a warning shot or brandishes a weapon from being prosecuted under the state's stiff gun laws," which he had previously proposed a year earlier, but had not received a vote. He actually was a pioneer in that regard, many claim, since the measure grew in popularity since 2013.
He attracted controversy also in 2013, when he suggested on Twitter that Barack Obama was responsible for the chemical attacks that took place in the Syrian Civil War, asking, "Who knows? Did the White House Help Plan the Syrian Chemical Attack?" Combee defended his remarks, saying, "I think it's my place, your place and everybody's place to question what is going on here. Who do we believe?"
With a $136,000 war chest going in (from his last reelection campaign), Combee will face state Rep. Ross Spano, R-Lakeland, who announced his candidacy Monday. Spano is perhaps best known for sponsoring a resolution declaring pornography a "public health risk" this past session.
State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, meanwhile, remains "on the fence," said one Florida GOP consultant. "He hasn't made up his mind whether he'll run for the CD 15 seat or stay in the Senate." Lee's committee The Conservative has $2.3 million in it, money he can assign to an ally if he chooses to pursue the federal office.
"I am sure there will be a vigorous debate of ideas, values and principles ahead," said Combee in making Tuesday's announcement, "but I am confident our conservative vision will resonate across the 15th District."
In 2016, 58,000 voters cast ballots in the GOP CD 15 primary.
Combee is married to Linda Weatherford. They have two children and live in Polk City.
Qualifying for congressional seats opens April 30 and ends May 4.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
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