Allen West Running For Re-Election In More GOP-Friendly Florida District

Rep. Allen West's (R-Fla.) re-election prospects just got a lot better.

West announced Tuesday that he was running to the north in the proposed 18th Congressional District. Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) is leaving that district to run in the proposed 17th Congressional District on the west coast of Florida.

"After much prayer, reflection and discussion with my close friends and family, I am announcing today my decision to seek re-election in Florida's proposed 18th Congressional District," said West in a statement. "I have always believed the state of Florida would be best served by having both Congressman Tom Rooney and myself in the House of Representatives working to solve our nation’s most pressing problems."

Meanwhile, the Miami Herald reports that Republican U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hasner is leaving the race to run for West's old seat in the 22nd District.

Re-election previously looked more perilous for West, whose swing district was in the process of being redrawn into being more Democratic.

He already had drawn two Democratic opponents, Patrick Murphy and former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel.

Frankel reacted to West's announcement Tuesday in a statement. "Allen West just announced that he is cutting and running from a fight with me -- he is retreating to another district," she said. "I am staying right here in the 22nd Congressional District."

West doesn't have Democratic opposition yet in his new district based in Port St. Lucie, about 90 miles north of his home in Plantation, Florida.

West has had impressive fundraising so far, including about $1.75 million in the last quarter and $2.7 million in cash on hand.

West has drawn controversy for his fiery language, including telling Democratic leaders to "get the hell out" of the U.S. and likening the Democrats to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels.

 

 

Comments

[frankblank]

10:44 PM on 04/16/2012

Our government is about 78-81% corrupt and the Little Corporal is an outsized source of that corruption.

[Donald J Sullivan]

03:08 PM on 02/16/2012

Well like those who jump from GOVT. to Corporations( the ones they monitor usually) there should be laws. You really should know the people you represent! This guy doesn't!

[l78lancer]

12:11 AM on 02/03/2012

So when you can't win in your own district you run away and try to hide in another. It's too bad that government and civic responsibility would become so unimportant to some voters as to accept this kind of obvious political manipulation.

[odra]

11:07 AM on 02/02/2012

I voted for Rep. Tom Rooney in the 18th Congressional District but I will not vote for West!

[Donald J Sullivan]

03:06 PM on 02/16/2012

Thank you, now tell all your friends and get him out!

[Murdale]

10:32 AM on 02/02/2012

Someone needs to step up and run against him. Use his own words against him. This man should never have been elected to office in the first place.

[wikwox]

10:05 AM on 02/02/2012

Don't you just love Gerrymandered "safe" districts? It's one of the reasons that no matter how many bums we throw out the major ones seem to be immortle and unremoveable from office. It's why Michelle Bachmann will be back and West as well. Contrived districts, favoreable to one party, have been a plague to this country since it's inception, that they still exist and that the practice still goes on shows how little power the American people actually possess.

[matcyn]

10:03 AM on 02/02/2012

Newt could make him Gov. of the MOON.

[ConDsenXieN]

09:53 AM on 02/02/2012

Good luck, West. You have no chance after your lies, laziness to your duty, and your shoddy record. Go join Walker at Fox News.

[WOODSTOCKER60]

09:26 AM on 02/02/2012

WEST IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE WITH A THRID GRADE EDUCATION GETS INTO A POSITION OF POWER....EVEN THO..HE IS STILL NOT PROPERLY DIAPER TRAINED...

[sunny4]

09:17 AM on 02/02/2012

This is the only reason why West is throwing out all of this "red meat", he wants to get re-elected
and he knows exactly what to say to get these folks to vote for him! Exactly what type of job would he get if he didn't get elected? He couldn't get a job digging ditches.

[ebanks84]

07:57 AM on 02/02/2012

West will be rejected wherever he runs because he represents NOBODY but himself. This man is selfish, mean, has ugly ways, and has done NOTHING in the position he has now other than complain and whine. Who wants somebody like that to represent them?

[ylobrkrd]

11:02 PM on 03/27/2012

Teapartiers.

[ocrmom59]

04:00 AM on 02/02/2012

When I hear people like West speaks I feel that some really don't mean what they say but they know if they talk with hate it will sale books and make them money. They get to be on utube and television, and in the news so they they think they are in hollywood. They think they are famous.

It is sad when they realize they been used that it makes those of us who are sane want to laugh right in their faces and tell them we told you so, but we just forgive them and keep walking righton and laughing on the inside. We think to ourselves another fool who came out the cold and we throw them a coat or jacket and closed the door in their faces with a smile. It leaves them to wonder if we forgave them and accept them back into the fold but we really don't. Let them keep thinking we need them when it is us they really need.

[Scurvydog74]

10:26 AM on 02/02/2012

Point taken. However, Limbaugh is an actor, West is a maniac and means what he says.

[greygrey]

03:26 AM on 02/02/2012

what a fool.

[stephan67]

02:25 AM on 02/02/2012

That's why he made provocative statements a few days ago

[Robert del Barrio]

01:56 AM on 02/02/2012

WHat a coward!

[WOODSTOCKER60]

09:27 AM on 02/02/2012

I WAS HOPING HIS DISTRICT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE EVERGLADES....AND START TOURING THEM A.S.A.P.

[ylobrkrd]

11:04 PM on 03/27/2012

Pity the beasts for they have been decimated by pythons. Save them from another python..a human one.