Florida Special Election 2014: Republicans Face Off In Race To Replace Trey Radel

Republicans Face Off In Race To Replace Trey Radel
UNITED STATES - MAY 22: From left, Rep. John Conyers, Jr., D-Mich., Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., and Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas hold a news conference at the Capitol on H.R.1962, the 'Free Flow of Information Act of 2013' on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. The legislation would 'increase protections for members of the media by providing a qualified privilege that prevents a reporter's source material from being revealed to government investigators except under narrow circumstances, such as where necessary to prevent an act of terrorism or other significant and specified harm to national security.' (Photo by Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - MAY 22: From left, Rep. John Conyers, Jr., D-Mich., Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., and Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas hold a news conference at the Capitol on H.R.1962, the 'Free Flow of Information Act of 2013' on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. The legislation would 'increase protections for members of the media by providing a qualified privilege that prevents a reporter's source material from being revealed to government investigators except under narrow circumstances, such as where necessary to prevent an act of terrorism or other significant and specified harm to national security.' (Photo by Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

A special election in southwest Florida Tuesday will determine which Republian will fight to replace Rep. Trey Radel (R-Fla.), who stepped down in January after being arrested for buying cocaine.

The four candidates vying to replace Radel are Florida state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, former CEO Curt Clawson, aerospace and defense consultant Michael Dreikorn and physician Paige Kreegel.

The AP reported earlier on the state of the race:

The campaign in the solidly GOP district to replace Trey Radel has been marred by allegations of connections to child sex offenders, questionable business dealings and negative attack ads.

The winner of Tuesday's special election will still likely defeat a Democratic challenger in the June 24 general election.

In a covert operation in October 2013, an undercover police officer sold Radel 3.5 grams of cocaine for $250 at a Washington, D.C. restaurant. He later pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and was sentenced to one-year probation.

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