Mitch Perry
Daniel Webster defeated Justin Grabelle in the Republican Primary for Florida’s 11th Congressional District. Webster won by taking 58 percent of the vote to Grabelle’s 42 percent. Webster will now take on Democrat Dave Koller and independent Bruce Ray Riggs in November.
Although Webster has served in the House for the past six years, this is his first run for office in CD 11, a vast district which includes parts of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. He has been serving in Florida’s 10th Congressional District, but after redistricting last year made the seat virtually unwinnable for a Republican, Webster opted to run for the seat after Republican incumbent Rich Nugent announced last fall he would not run for re-election.
Grabelle had served as Nugent’s chief-of-staff and was initially viewed to be the odds-on favorite to win the seat, especially after getting Nugent’s endorsement. But that was before Webster decided to enter the race.
Webster will now take on Kollar in the fall. It’s the Democrat’s second straight shot at trying to win the solidly GOP-leaning seat.
