The Florida delegation was the heart of the opposition in the Republican caucus to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, earlier this year and there could soon be another member from the Sunshine State against the Ohio congressman -- Gwen Graham opponent Mary Thomas.
Earlier this year, two Florida Republican congressmen -- Dan Webster and Ted Yoho -- challenged Boehner to lead the Republican caucus. Webster proved Boehner’s chief internal rival, but he came up short. In retaliation, Boehner kicked Webster off the powerful House Rules Committee.
Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Rich Nugent and Bill Posey backed Webster’s challenge. Nugent, like Webster, was tossed off the Rules Committee.
U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Fla., also voted against Boehner and cast his ballot for his ally U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
With the Florida Legislature currently holding a special session focused on congressional redistricting, the anti-Boehner group from the Sunshine State could lose a member. Under the base map passed by the House this week, Webster will be shifted to a strong Democratic district based in Orange County.
Earlier this week, speaking before a joint legislative committee, Webster said the base map “makes the seat uncompetitive for anyone in my party" and was built to “eliminate an incumbent.” Despite that, the House passed districts based on the base map and the Senate is expected to do so on Monday.
Webster is not the only member of the Florida delegation who could be losing his seat under the base map. Democrat U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham’s district becomes far more hostile to her party, giving Republicans an opportunity to flip the seat.
So far, two Republican candidates -- Panama City urologist Dr. Neal Dunn and Tallahassee attorney Mary Thomas -- are running against Graham.
Politico interviewed Thomas in a piece published on Friday and the Republican hopeful was asked whether or not she would support keeping Boehner as speaker.
“I think we need leadership from the president on down, so I would not vote for Boehner,” Thomas told Politico.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
