While former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, is no longer presiding over a chamber of Congress, the Ohio Republican has become something of an issue in a competitive South Florida congressional race.
Politico reported last week that Boehner would host a fundraiser this past weekend for U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY, in Florida. Curbelo is a top target for Democrats come November.
Former Miami Dade Democratic Party Chairwoman Annette Taddeo’s team, now facing a competitive Democratic primary despite having the blessing of leading Beltway Democrats like U.S. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Mary., and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-NM, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), weighed in on Boehner backing Curbelo on Wednesday.
The Taddeo camp sent off an email trying to drum up support from the Democrats by bashing Boehner as businessman Andrew Korge, the son of a prominent Hillary Clinton backer, has gotten in the race and former U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., who Curbelo beat in 2014, ponders entering the contest.
“John Boehner was back in Florida to raise money for Carlos Curbelo," the Taddeo campaign emailed supporters on Wednesday afternoon. “We always knew John Boehner and Carlos Curbelo were buddies -- just look at 2014 national Republicans spending in South Florida! -- but this takes it to a whole new level.
Boehner is a prolific fundraiser,” the Taddeo camp continued. “We know there’s going to be a lot of cash shoveled into Curbelo’s coffers. This race is one of the closest in the entire country, and Speaker Boehner is pulling out all the stops to help out his friend.”
While Curbelo was first elected in 2014, he became something of a favorite for Boehner during his first months in Congress. Boehner tapped Curbelo to offer the Spanish language Republican response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address in January 2015.
For his part, Curbelo expressed regret when Boehner announced he would relinquish the gavel back in September.
"This is a major loss for Congress as an institution and is particularly painful for House Republicans,” Curbelo said at that time. “No one has worked harder for the American people and no one has worked harder to build our majority than Speaker John Boehner. He is one of the most decent, caring people I have ever met, and I will miss him every day."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
