Ryan Nicol
Republican candidate Laura Loomer is going from right-wing social media star to congressional candidate after securing a win Tuesday night in Florida’s 21st Congressional District.
Loomer will now face incumbent Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel in the General Election after Frankel easily dispatched Guido Weiss in the Democratic primary.
And now she has the support of the district’s most famous constituent, President Donald Trump.
“Great going Laura,” Trump tweeted upon news of her victory. “You have a great chance against a Pelosi puppet!”
She spoke at a victory party standing alongside controversial Trump confidante Roger Stone.
Loomer was part of a six-person contest for the GOP nod. Also running were Palm Beach State College professor Christian Acosta, exotic animal advocate Elizabeth Felton, Air Force veteran Aaron Scanlan, the QAnon supporting Reba Sherrill and former IRS criminal investigator Michael Vilardi.
According to Tuesday’s unofficial results, Loomer was well ahead with nearly 43% of the vote to Acosta’s 26%. Vilardi was in third with 12%, followed by Scanlan at 9%, Felton at 7% and Sherrill at 3%.
Frankel is dominating as well. She’s currently up over Weiss by a margin of 87%-13%.
Loomer became a right-wing favorite thanks to her numerous attention-grabbing stunts on social media. She also generated controversy for her anti-Muslim remarks and other antics. Loomer supported Hallandale Beach Commissioner Anabelle Lima-Taub after Lima-Taub claimed Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, a Muslim, might “blow up Capitol Hill.”
Loomer was also banned from Twitter after calling Minnesota U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar “anti-Jewish.” Facebook, Instagram, Medium, and several other social media platforms have cast Loomer aside as well.
Nevertheless, Rep. Matt Gaetz and longtime GOP operative Roger Stone recently endorsed Loomer as she sought the CD 21 nod.
When Gaetz noted Loomer’s victory online, the President retweeted the message and commented “Big win Matt!”
Loomer was able to consistently raise money as well, crossing the $1 million mark by late July. While that total put her well ahead of her GOP competitors, Loomer spent big on fundraising fees just to collect that total in the first place. That led to much of her funding going out of her campaign as quickly as it came in.
Acosta has not held public office before but managed to secure an endorsement from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He failed to raise much money, however.
Felton runs a business featuring several exotic animals. She focused on the issue of exotic animal ownership during her campaign, arguing animal rights groups should not advocate against humans owning them.
Scanlan spent more than two decades working for the Jupiter Police Department after his time in the Air Force. He told the Palm Beach Post his top three issues are clean water, protecting seniors and lowering prescription drug prices.
Vilardi made IRS reforms a pillar of his campaign.
Though Loomer has attracted plenty of controversy, Sherrill may be even further on the fringe. She advocates for the wild QAnon conspiracy, which believes in the existence of a secret, elite pedophile ring where rich people abuse and eat children.
Loomer will face a tough slog come November. Democrats have a 17.5-point advantage over Republicans in terms of voter registration within the district. Frankel won reelection in 2016 by more than 25 points and ran unopposed in 2018.
While Loomer led her Republican rivals in fundraising, she’s still trailing Frankel significantly in cash on hand. Loomer holds around $220,000 as of July 29 while Frankel retains more than $1.25 million.
Write-in candidates Piotr Blass and Sylvia Caravetta also ran, as did non-party affiliated candidate Charleston Malkemus. The General Election is Nov. 3.
13 comments
MA Frost
August 18, 2020 at 9:04 pm
Good grief Florida. What the hell is wrong with you?
Mark Johnsen
August 18, 2020 at 11:51 pm
MA Frost–
What is wrong with you. I think you ought to stay in the state of MA as that Frost has obviously frozen your brain! The arrogant nasty, left wing extremist frankel wants massive tax increases, supports antifa/blm marxist domestic terrorists, tax payer funded health care for everyone including illegals, open borders & abortion on demand at any time. Frankel first ran for office in 1986! Its time for her to go now!
Laura Loomer is a strong Jewish American Conservative who strongly supports President Trump & his agenda, supports the police & says NO to raising taxes & antifa/blm domestic terrorists! All the leftist local media types say frankel cant lose.
I say Laura Loomer raises enough money & pulls the upset in a BIG RED WAVE of support for President Trump & to say yes for CIVILIZATION & NO to ANARCHY!
MA Frost
August 19, 2020 at 12:06 am
Loomer is a freakin’ looney tunes. I think COVID’s eaten at Florida voters’ brains. Good luck with that. BTW, I don’t live in MA
Mo Lester
August 19, 2020 at 12:43 am
Yes what is wrong? Constantly electing dimmietards who serve no purpose but to destroy, control, and corrupt, that’s what!
About time they woke up!
MA Frost
August 19, 2020 at 1:10 am
Dimmietards? 😆😆 Okay Mo. You do realize she will get her crazy ass whooped in a solid blue district. Have fun with that
Ocean Joe
August 19, 2020 at 11:51 am
Good to see Mr. Stone out in public again! He is always good for a laugh which could explain why he’s appearing with this character.
Terry O'Brien
August 19, 2020 at 11:10 am
To MA Frost: Democrats are the party of infanticide, socialism, government control, smashing Free Speech rights, giving free stuff to illegal aliens, and now they are the party of mobs in the streets burning and destroying cities. See the burning cities and torn down statues, and you see the democrat party world. Mobs.
Laura Loomer is the response. GOD BLESS LAURA
twana jones
August 18, 2020 at 10:16 pm
Anti Muslim ? She is Jewish and you left that out of your story . Omar and the Democratic party is antisemetic
Hester
August 19, 2020 at 9:54 am
Lets send frankle home. Time for this career politician to get a real job, and stop living off the tax payer dime!
MA Frost
August 19, 2020 at 10:37 am
Lots more of Laura Looney out there. Good luck in a blue district
https://twitter.com/nothoodlum/status/1295941736699760640?s=21
Terry O'Brien
August 19, 2020 at 11:09 am
God bless Laura. Democrats are the party of infanticide, socialism, government control, smashing Free Speech rights, giving free stuff to illegal aliens, and now they are the party of mobs in the streets burning and destroying cities. See the burning cities and torn down statues, and you see the democrat party world. Mobs.
Laura Loomer is the response. GOD BLESS LAURA
MA Frost
August 19, 2020 at 11:10 am
https://twitter.com/NotHoodlum/status/1295941736699760640
TED KRUZE
August 19, 2020 at 11:39 am
She’s truly and totally an asshole. The perfect complement to Trump.
Comments are closed.