Vennia Francois swaps races to run in CD 10

Republican congressional candidate Vennia Francois is switching her candidacy  to Florida’s 10th Congressional District from Florida’s 7th Congressional District, seeking to  take on U.S. Rep. Val Demings rather than be in the multi-Republican field targeting U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy.

Francois switches to CD 10 after the leading Republican candidate there, Kirk Troen, withdrew his candidacy earlier this month.

That puts Francois in competition with Republican Angela Marie Walls-Windhauser, a perennial candidate for various offices, including for President this year.

 Francois, 46, was living in CD 7, in Seminole County.

CD 10 covers western Orange County. The U.S. Constitution requires members of Congress to live in the state they represent, but not necessarily the district.

Her departure from the CD 10 race still leaves a crowded field there. Other Republicans in that field include health care executive  Chelle DiAngelus of Longwood, Orlando Dr. Leo Valentin, Lake Mary mortgage broker Richard Goble, Orlando businessman Yukong Zhao, DeBary City Councilman Stephen Bacon, and Orlando businessman Thomas Delia.

Francois, a lawyer who had interned for Murphy’s predecessor Rep. John Mica and later worked for Sen. Mel Martinez and his successor Sen. George LeMieux, is making her second bid for Congress. In 2018 she ran in CD 7 but lost in the Republican primary.

She’s pushing justice reform, keeping unemployment low, safeguarding Social Security, making the 2017 tax cuts permanent as well as on immigration reform, community development, and education.