Mitch PerryProgressive Action PAC – the political action committee of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) – has endorsed Eric Lynn in the Democratic Primary for Florida’s 13th Congressional District.
On the endorsement, CPC co-chair Rep. Raul Grijalva said, “The Congressional Progressive Caucus is proud to endorse Eric Lynn for Congress because of his longstanding and unwavering commitment to progressive values. In Congress, he will be a champion on the issues that matter most to Florida including social security, economic opportunity and women’s rights.”
“Eric Lynn earned our support because he is the true progressive leader that Pinellas County wants and needs in Congress,” added CPC co-chair Rep. Keith Ellison. “As a life-long Democrat and the clear favorite of local grassroots leaders, Lynn can be trusted to stand up for the middle class, take on special interests, and give voice to the people in his district.”
“It is truly an honor to earn the support of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the driving voice for progressive change and the largest Democratic caucus on Capitol Hill,” said Lynn. “I look forward to working together to fight for Pinellas County and bring meaningful change to Washington.”
Ellison’s comment reflects the fact that the front-runner in the Democratic race, former Governor Charlie Crist, was a lifelong Republican until he left the party in 2010 in his bid for U.S. Senate. That past political affiliation is a reason why some progressives couldn’t get behind his 2014 run for governor as a Democrat.
However, rank and file Democrats polled in CD 11 seem to have no problem with Crist’s prior life as a Republican, as he leads Lynn by 60 percentage points in a recent poll.
The 37-year-old Lynn served as a Defense Department advisor in Barack Obama’s administration from 2008-2014. He does lead Crist, in terms of having more cash on hand in his campaign bank account.
The winner of the Crist-Lynn race will take on the GOP nominee in November. Currently, retired U.S. Marine Corps reserve brigadier general Mark Bircher remains the best known of that lot.
