Businessman and Army veteran Todd Wilcox won a straw poll on Sunday as he continues his bid for the Republican nomination to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in the Senate.
The Republican Liberty Caucus of East Central Florida hosted two of the Republicans running for the U.S. Senate this past weekend as Wilcox and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., came to the Space Coast and took part in the forum. Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera recorded a minute and a half statement from Israel.
After a forum moderated by John Hallman, the legislative affairs director for Liberty First Network, and Sunshine State News’ own Kevin Derby, touching on term limits, tax reform, the Middle East, term limits and other issues, the straw poll was held. Wilcox carried more than 68 percent of the votes while Lopez-Cantera edged out DeSantis for second. U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., and businessman Carlos Beruff finished far behind the other candidates.
Wilcox showcased his victory in an email to supporters on Monday.
“The Republican Liberty Caucus is a group of conservative leaders from across the state who have been fighting for liberty and constitutional freedom for more than 20 years,” Wilcox noted. “Like so many of you, their members are fed up with the career politicians and political insiders who promise us one thing during their campaigns and do another once elected to office.
“What folks voted for this weekend weren't the same old empty promises they've been given in the past,” Wilcox added. “They voted for my detailed blueprint to eliminate ISIS, my plan to restore fiscal sanity in Washington, my call for an end to career politicians and a belief that I'll actually fight for them - because it's what I've done my whole life.”
Two Florida House Republicans facing term limits in November--Debbie Mayfield of Vero Beach and Ritch Workman of Melbourne--took part in a forum as they run for the state Senate. Brevard County Republican State Committeeman Mike Thomas also took part in the state Senate forum. Mayfield scored a narrow win over Workman in the straw poll with Thomas in third.
A host of Republicans running for the Florida House also took part in the forum including George Collins and Chadwick Hardee running in HD 50; Tim Tumulty in HD 51; Brian Hodgers, Monique Miller and Fritz Van Volkenburg in HD 52; and Randy Fine in HD 53. In the forum, Fine said he was running to be Florida House speaker after the 2012 elections. Collins, Tumulty, Van Volkenburg and Fine all won their respective straw polls.
U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., also spoke at the event which had a crowd of around 300.
