Weatherford took to Twitter on Wednesday to let voters know he will not run in the Senate election.
Many good candidates looking at 2016 Senate race, I will not be one of them, Weatherford posted. My wife and I have an agreement that I will not run for office while we still have children in diapers. I look forward to seeing a great field of Republican candidates and holding our majority in U.S. Senate.
Weatherford faced term limits in the Florida House after the 2014 elections and has moved into the business world. After leaving office, the former House speaker launched Weatherford Partners to focus on capital investment. Earlier this year, Weatherford was named to the board of directors of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Weatherford remains politically active, including serving with the Republican State Leadership Committee.
Despite Weatherford staying out of the race, a number of leading Florida politicians are looking at entering the Senate contest. Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., and former Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said they were exploring running for the open Senate seat. U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., entered the Senate race last month and U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., is considering running against him in the Democratic primary. U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Fla., former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fla. and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera are also possible Senate candidates.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
