Former Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chairwoman Annette Taddeo, best known for being former Gov. Charlie Crists running mate on the 2014 Democratic gubernatorial ticket, is running against U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla.
Taddeo told the Miami Herald on Sunday that she was entering the race. Crist held a kickoff fundraiser for his old running mate on Thursday.
In recent years, the South Florida district, currently represented by Curbelo, has proven to be very competitive. Democrat Joe Garcia defeated scandal-plagued U.S. Rep. David Rivera, R-Fla., in 2012. But Garcia was hurt by scandal and a series of gaffes which helped Curbelo flip the seat back to the Republicans in 2014 even as Crist carried the district over Gov. Rick Scott.
Taddeo sent an email to Crist supporters on Monday and she played up her ties to the former governor.
Last year I was honored to run alongside Charlie Crist for lieutenant governor, Taddeo wrote. It was one of the greatest joys of my life to travel the state and hear from so many Floridians about their hopes and dreams for a better future. Im not finished fighting for Florida families -- and I want you to be the first to know: I am running for Congress in Floridas 26th District!
This is not a decision I take lightly, and Ive thought long and hard about it. Taddeo added. But at the end of the day, I am running for the hard-working people of South Florida. The people who get up every day to go to work, raise their kids, and care for their families -- and who deserve leaders who will work just as hard to represent them in Congress.
Taddeo played up her background in business and downplayed her time in politics.
Im a small-business owner and a working mom, Taddeo wrote. Ive held minimum-wage jobs and fought against tough odds to build a business from the ground up. My story is like so many of your stories. You can bet I'll use that determination to stand up for all of us in Congress.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) quickly responded, noting Taddeo has had no luck when she has sought office: her failed bid as Crists running mate, her efforts to win a Miami-Dade County Commission seat and her campaign against U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla. The NRCC also pointed out that Taddeo did not live in the South Florida district.
It looks like perennial losing candidate Annette Taddeo is running for office again, the NRCC responded on Monday. Taddeos obsession with running for office is so strong that she now plans to run in a district where she doesnt even live.
To be fair, Annette did say she plans to move out of her ritzy Pinecrest home into one actually in the district shes trying to represent, the NRCC added. Given Taddeos many past failures as a candidate, she may want to consider renting this time around. That way, when shes choosing the next office she going to run for, itll be easier for her to carpetbag it out of town."
Chris Pack, a spokesman for the NRCC, painted Taddeo as desperate" on Monday.
Annette Taddeo is so desperate to run for office that shes now running in a district where she doesnt even live, Pack said. This is a new level of desperation for Taddeo, who seemingly cant kick her obsession with running for office regardless of what or where it is.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
