Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is throwing his support behind Rep. David Jolly.
Putnam has endorsed Jolly in Florida’s 13th Congressional District. The endorsement comes just two weeks ahead of the Aug. 30 primary.
“David Jolly has a proven record of putting people before politics and his community’s interests before Washington’s,” said Putnam in a statement.
Putnam knows a thing or two about serving in Congress. He spent 10 years representing Florida’s 12th Congressional District, stepping down in 2010 to run for agriculture commissioner. A lifelong Floridian, Putnam is widely believed to be gearing up for a 2018 gubernatorial bid.
“It’s an honor to have Commissioner Putnam’s support,” said Jolly in a statement. “He’s one of Florida’s greatest leaders, committed always to economic growth and individual liberty — a free market constitutionalist whose support is a true honor.”
While most of the focus has been on the likely match-up between Jolly and Democrat Charlie Crist in November, Jolly does have a primary challenger.
Jolly faces Mark Bircher in the Aug. 30 primary. The race marks the second time Bircher and Jolly will face off in a Republican primary. Bircher finished third behind Jolly and Kathleen Peters in special Republican primary in January 2014.
But Bircher faces an uphill battle in his quest to unseat Jolly. The Indian Shores Republican has received the backing of establishment Republicans, including former Gov. Jeb Bush and Rep. Vern Buchanan, the chairman of the Florida congressional delegation.
“David has demonstrated he has the capability to break through the dysfunction in Washington,” said Putnam. “He is without a doubt the right man for the job.”
