Ryan RayBoca Raton businessman Jospeh “J.B.” Bensmihen will give two-term U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel a general election challenge that his camp thinks has a serious shot in the Democratic-leaning district based in Palm Beach and Broward.
Bensmihen’s candidacy was first reported by The Palm Beach Post‘s George Bennett.
Bensmihen describes himself as a moderate Republican, and stresses that although the seat is historically Democratic, he’s best positioned to speak for the 22nd Congressional District thanks to his business acumen and pragmatic approach to politics.
“I am running for Congress for four reasons: first because the people of the 22nd District have no voice in the U.S. House right now,” Bensmihen wrote in a news release. “If elected I will be a voice of moderation and reason, a voice for the people of this district and, importantly, I will be in the majority where I will be in a position of leadership to get things done.”
The volatile issue of the United States’ complicated relationship to Israel also figures to loom large in this race. Unlike most of Florida, the Arab-Israeli conflict routinely wins or loses political campaigns in Broward and Palm Beach counties, particularly in Democratic primaries.
In the announcement trumpeting his campaign Bensmihen tried to draw a stark contrast between himself and Frankel, who attended Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s unorthodox speech to Congress when he was invited at the behest of Speaker John Boehner, but not without some controversy.
“[W]hile the nation of Israel is under siege the people of the district, both Jews like myself and Americans who love and respect our closest ally, expect our Representative to defend Israel even if it means crossing her own party,” Bensmihen wrote. “Sadly our current Representative would not attend Israeli Prime Minister’s address to Congress without the ‘okay’ from her party bosses. That’s not the type of leadership the people of this district deserve or want.”
The district, which centers on urban West Palm Beach, skews toward Democrats by a margin of 41-30. That leaves lots of independents, though, likely up for grabs for a challenger like Bensmihen.
Before deciding to enter public life, Bensmihen founded and operated the large health care services firm Boca Home Care Inc. He is executive director of the Private Care Association. He also has several philanthropic credits to his name including a distinguished community service award from Florida Atlantic University and board positions on disabilities group Stand With Friends and the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation.
