Billing himself as an “effective conservative who delivers results,” U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., launched his campaign to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in the Senate next year. Rubio is running for the Republican presidential nomination and is not running for a second Senate term. A longtime aide to U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., after that congressman’s death, Jolly entered the special election to replace him, narrowly beating former state CFO Alex Sink in an upset last year. Democrats did not field a candidate against Jolly in November.
Facing a tough battle to stay in the House in 2016 after the Florida Supreme Court ruled his seat needs to be redistricted, Jolly launched his Senate bid on Monday.
“I have been blessed with the opportunity to represent the people of Pinellas County in the U.S. House, taking their voice to Washington, D.C., and delivering results for our neighbors and community,” Jolly said. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident that the best is yet to come for our region and our state. It is with this sincere belief and focus on the future of Pinellas County and the entire state of Florida that I proudly announce my candidacy for the U.S. Senate.”
Jolly focused his fire on President Barack Obama on Monday.
“Over the next year, I intend to run for the U.S. Senate on an unwavering platform that will reject the politics of division and class warfare that have defined the current administration, reject the failed foreign policies that have projected only weakness and apology on the world stage, and embrace a new economy founded on the principle that individuals and families, not government bureaucrats, create success,” Jolly vowed. “I will stand up every day for the American people and say once and for all that you should be allowed to determine your own future, practice your own faith and pursue the American dream -- and that includes making your own health-care coverage decisions.
“We will not tolerate failed foreign policies and wavering alliances that leave America vulnerable to a dangerous treaty with Iran, weakness before our enemies and a failed policy to combat ISIS,” Jolly added.
“The time to reclaim America begins right here, right now,” Jolly insisted.
The Democrats quickly fired back on the new candidate, noting his background as a lobbyist, a tactic Sink used last year.
Justin Barasky, a spokesman for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC), ripped Jolly as a Washington insider.
“Lobbyist turned Congressman David Jolly is just the latest out-of-touch Senate candidate to throw his hat into the crowded GOP Florida Senate primary, and after bouncing back and forth between Capitol Hill and the plush hallways of lobbying firms, he’s angling for a promotion,” Barasky said on Monday. “Congressman Jolly’s candidacy takes the situation for Republicans from bad to worse as they are now staring down a five-person primary in one of the most important states for them to defend.”
Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant agreed and insisted the GOP primary field was underwhelming.
“Koch-backed tea partiers, a no-show lieutenant governor with more baggage than Rick Scott’s private jet can carry, and now a Washington lobbyist,” Tant said on Monday. “Could Florida Republicans have assembled a primary field more out of touch with middle class voters than these four? No wonder this field is already being described as ‘weak.’
“Florida Democrats look forward to sending Bill Nelson a Democratic partner in the fight for Florida’s middle class,” Tant added.
Jolly joins U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and businessman Todd Wilcox in the Republican primary. U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., is expected to enter the race while former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is also looking at getting in. U.S. Reps. Alan Grayson and Patrick Murphy are running on the Democratic side. Republican strategist Roger Stone is looking at running as a Libertarian.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
