FL-05: Ginny Brown-Waite Retires, Endorses Nugent

It’s for real, this time:

Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, is abandoning her re-election bid.

“As I have prepared for my campaign, I have been troubled by persistent health problems and have come to the disappointing and sad conclusion that I cannot run for reelection. There are simply too many unresolved issues around my health and my pancreas in particular. As of this morning, my doctors are still undecided about what course to pursue next for my treatments.”

Brown-Wait immediately backed Hernando County Sheriff Ted Richard Nugent.

“I encouraged Sheriff Nugent to run because I know him to be a strong conservative who will continue my fight for veterans and seniors.  This past week Rich told me he would stand in my place for election to Congress.  On Monday I will to ask the Secretary of State to withdraw my name from the ballot.

You may recall that Brown-Waite teased the world with hints that she would retire back in February, only to announce instead that she was getting married. Though this seat has been held by Democrats in friendlier configurations, I wouldn’t expect a competitive race here — Obama lost the district by a 56-43 margin in 2008.

UPDATE: I neglected to mention that today is the filing deadline for Florida, so this looks like it was timed well in advance to give The Nuge a clear field in the primary (and probably the general, as well).

LATER UPDATE: Ah, crikey. The St. Pete Times incorrectly identified Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent as Ted Nugent. Words cannot express how disappointed I am right now.

45 thoughts on “FL-05: Ginny Brown-Waite Retires, Endorses Nugent”

  1. …a MyDD front-page diary on April Fool’s Day teasing that Senator Bill Nelson was flipping to independent and caucusing with the GOP.

    But lo and behold, there’s really a conservative Republican candidate for Congress named Ted Nugent!

    That makes me ill.  I can only hope this guy at least has a saner temperament than the whackjob rocker from Michigan and thus redeems the name.

  2. the filing deadline for incumbents is a few days earlier than for challengers? So that this kind of stunt can’t be pulled off as easily?

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