Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Francis Rooney is one step closer to being called congressman.
The Naples Republican came out on top in Florida’s 19th Congressional District, defeating Sanibel Island Republican Chauncey Goss and Palm City Republican Dan Bongino.
According to preliminary election results, Rooney received 53 percent of the vote. Goss came in second with 30 percent, followed by Bongino with 17 percent of the vote.
The race to replace Rep. Curt Clawson in Florida’s 19th Congressional District was more like a sprint, than a marathon. Clawson, a Bonita Springs Republican first elected in special election in 2014, announced in May he wasn’t running for re-election.
Rooney, a prominent Republican donor and a former ambassador to the Holy See, gave his campaign an estimated $3.9 million and spent heavily on TV advertisements. He racked up several big-name endorsements, including Gov. Rick Scott, who cut an advertisement and attended several fundraisers for Rooney.
Goss — a well-known Lee County Republican and son of former CIA Director Porter Goss, who once represented the area — came in second. While he saw solid support in Lee County, he didn’t have the money to do the widespread ad blitz like Rooney.
Neither did Bongino, a newcomer to Florida and the district. The Palm City Republican faced criticism after an expletive-laced phone call with POLITICO reporter Marc Caputo. He attempted to defend himself during a hastily called press conference, where he was then questioned about his inability to vote in the election.
Bongino wasn’t registered to vote in CD 19. He owns a home in Martin County, and said he was renting property in Collier.
The district includes most of Lee County and coastal Collier County.
Rooney now heads to the general election, where he’ll face Democrat Robert Neeld. But in the solidly Republican congressional district, it is unlikely Neeld will gain enough support to topple Rooney come November.
One comment
obxcape
August 31, 2016 at 5:17 am
This is simple proof that money might not be able to buy love, but it sure as hell can buy elections. Peer across the landscape and you’ll clearly see that the wealthy hold the keys to the power vault. It’s despicable.
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