Congressional District 1 candidate Jeff Witt (Photo courtesy of Jeff Witt for Congress campaign)
Fighter pilot and management consultant Jeff Witt is the latest Republican to file to run in Florida’s First Congressional District in the special election to succeed Matt Gaetz, who stepped down from the seat earlier this month.
A decorated Afghanistan war veteran who reportedly flew 82 combat missions for the Air National Guard during the first stage of the Afghanistan war, Witt, 38, received a BA and MBA from Harvard University serves on the Donald Trump transition team as a volunteer adviser.
“I have served my country in uniform for 14 years, and my dedication to service extends to the community in which my family and I live,” Witt said in a written statement on Monday.
“I am excited to meet voters from all across the district in this campaign and prove to them that I will be a trusted leader in Congress who represents them with conviction, hard work, and integrity. I will fight to get inflation under control, secure our borders, and strengthen our military. I will listen to the needs of my constituents, and I will work tirelessly on their behalf to make Florida’s 1st District the finest place in America for veterans, businesses, and families. I look forward to earning your vote on January 28.”
Among those endorsing Witt is Robert Wilkie, who served as Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Trump administration.
“Jeff Witt is a patriot and a staunch supporter of President Trump and his America First agenda,” Wilkie said in the press release issued by Witt’s campaign. “As the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Trump, I know that Jeff’s mission will always be to put warriors first. I am honored to give Jeff my full endorsement. He stands for the right things — family and freedom.”
Eight candidates
There are now at least eight candidates who have filed to run in the Republican primary for the seat, which Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Friday will take place on Jan. 28. The general election for the seat will take place April 1.
Other Republicans who have announced they’re running include state Reps. Michelle Salzman and Joel Rudman, businesswoman Bernadette Pittman, educator Kevin Gaffney, former U.S. Senate candidate Keith Gross, former Green Beret John Frankman, and Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino, who just announced his candidacy on Friday.
Gay Valimont and Stanley Gray are the only two Democrats to declare their candidacy in what is an extremely conservative district.
Gaetz held the Panhandle-area congressional seat for the past eight years and defeated Valimont by 32 percentage points earlier this month. But he resigned from his seat after being nominated by Trump to serve as secretary of state. With it looking doubtful that he would be confirmed, Gaetz withdrew his nomination last week and said Friday that he would not return to Congress.