Voters in southwest Florida went to polling places on Tuesday to nominate major party candidates in the preliminary process to replace resigned Rep. Trey Radel (R). The Ft. Myers anchored seat is safely Republican so last night's GOP primary is likely definitive in determining who will succeed the deposed Congressman.
Businessman Curt Clawson, campaigning as "The Outsider," outpaced the Republican field of candidates with 38% of the vote, just as polling predicted. State Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto was second with 26%, while former state Rep. and congressional candidate Paige Kreegel attracted 25% and businessman Michael Dreikorn finished well behind with 11%.
Mr. Clawson will now face public relations executive April Freeman in the June 24 special general election. Ms. Freeman was unopposed in yesterday's Democratic primary. But, in a district that voted for Mitt Romney in the 61st percentile and chose John McCain in 2008 with 57% of its votes, while never electing a Democratic representative, it appears that the Republican businessman is heir apparent to the seat.
The June winner serves the balance of the current term. Just after entering the House, the new Congressman will almost immediately be placed on the regular 2014 primary ballot, occurring only two months into his or her congressional tenure.
Before the special general, however, comes the May 2 candidate filing deadline for the regular 2014 election. It remains to be seen if any of the defeated Republican contenders file against Clawson after what will be such a short duration between elections. Because of his victory margin, chances are high that Mr. Clawson will have an easy road to re-nomination and will be well positioned to win a full term in November.
Should Clawson ultimately claim victory, the Republican conference will grow to 234 members as compared to 199 Democrats and two vacancies. The latter two districts will remain unfilled until the regular general election because governors in both North Carolina and New Jersey have scheduled those special elections concurrently with the regular midterm vote. Reps. Mel Watt (D-NC-12) and Rob Andrews (D-NJ-1) resigned their seats earlier in the year to accept a federal appointment and a position in the private sector, respectively. Democrats will retain both seats.
For more information, please contact David Ashinoff at (202) 547-5013 or ashinoffd@agc.org.