After eight terms in Congress, U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., announced he would not seek reelection.
“After a great deal of reflection, I have decided not to seek reelection this fall,” Crenshaw said on Wednesday. “Representing the Congressional District where my family has lived for four generations has been a tremendous privilege. I am proud of the work we have accomplished for the citizens of Northeast Florida and our nation during my time in Congress. Progress is measured in projects completed and lives impacted, and I think we made a difference. Now, it is time to turn the page on this chapter of my life and see what’s next.”
The First Coast Republican has been a leading player on the Sunshine State’s political stage for decades. First elected to the Florida House in 1972, Crenshaw, the son-in-law of Gov. Claude Kirk, ran for Secretary of State in 1978 but lost to George Firestone. Another defeat would follow two years later when he placed third in the Republican U.S. Senate primary. Crenshaw bounced back to win a state Senate seat in 1986 and became the first Republican to serve as its president since Reconstruction. But Crenshaw stumbled again when he set his eyes on state office, losing to Jeb Bush in the 1994 gubernatorial primary.
After fellow First Coast Republican Tillie Fowler announced she was retiring from Congress, Crenshaw won the open seat in 2000 and has had little difficulty in keeping the seat in Republican hands.
During his time in Congress, Crenshaw served as party of the leadership as deputy majority whip. But much of his focus has been on his work on the Appropriations Committee, including the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. From that perch, Crenshaw has worked on expanding the Navy’s role in the First Coast including efforts in recent years to bring a carrier back to Mayport. Back in n 2013, Navy Sec. Ray Mabus awarded Crenshaw the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest civilian honor from that branch of the Armed Forces.
Crenshaw currently chairs the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee. During his time in Congress, Crenshaw led the charge to pass the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act which lets disabled Americans save in tax-free savings accounts. Crenshaw has led the Crohn's and Colitis Caucus and the Nepal Caucus.
Before the latest round of redistricting, Crenshaw represented all of Baker and Nassau counties and parts of Duval County in Congress. Under the new map approved by the Florida Supreme Court, the district keeps Nassau County while losing Baker County and includes more than half the population of Duval County, keeping most of his Jacksonville base. The district also goes further south under the new map, taking in most of St. Johns County which had been represented by U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. This district remains reliably Republican and a host of First Coast Republicans are expected to try to replace Crenshaw.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
