Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is diving into Florida congressional races, endorsing state Rep. Matt Gaetz for Congress on Monday.
Huckabee endorsed the Fort Walton Beach Republican in his campaign to replace U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Huckabee owns a home in Walton County in the Florida Panhandle.
Huckabee said he believed Gaetz would stay true to his promises and remain the same Matt Gaetz in Washington rather than allowing the political system to change him.
“I’ve seen a lot of people go to Washington promising to change it; instead, Washington changed them. I don’t worry about that with Matt Gaetz because if he gets elected to Congress, I think he will do what he has been doing all his political life – changing the institutions and challenging them,” Huckabee said. “He’s been 100% consistent in his pro-life convictions. He’s supported our Second Amendment and defended it vigorously. He’s supported lower taxes and he’s also trying to get government off the backs of small businesses.
Huckabee said Gaetz is "just the kind of Congressman" Matt is just the kind of Congressman America "desperately" needs to represent constituents' interests rather than special interests.
Gaetz said he was excited to have the support of Huckabee in his run for Congress, calling him a "dear friend."
“Mike is a ... conservative champion, faith leader, and resident of the First Congressional District," he explained. "He understands first-hand the failures of Washington and the need to fight for bold conservative reforms to restore America."
Gaetz will face off against eight Republicans for the GOP nomination, including Sen. Greg Evers, who will pose the biggest threat to Gaetz in the primary. The two have sparred in recent weeks, with Gaetz releasing ads calling Evers "clueless" in regards to sequestration. The ad, released to FloridaPolitics, implies the Florida Senator is more focused on Second Amendment rights than on knowing what sequestration is.
The GOP primary will take place Aug. 30.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
