Jacob Ogles
When a provocative internet pundit banned from most social media won a six-person Congressional primary, America, well, freaked out. But Republican Laura Loomer’s quirky run against Democrat Lois Frankel generated few headlines since.
It’s not necessarily a huge surprise.
A St. Pete Polls survey of likely voters in Florida’s 21st Congressional District, commissioned for Florida Politics, found Frankel ahead 61% to 33%, with independent Charleston Malkemus pulling in 2%. Division of Elections book closing reports show Democrats outnumber Republicans 233,937 to 144,394 in this deep blue district; the 151,322 no-party-affiliate voters there actually outnumber card-carrying members of the GOP.
But considering this district does have one rather prominent Republican voter registered — namely President Donald Trump — there remain powerful eyes on this race. Indeed, Trump tweeted his support for Loomer the night she secured the GOP nomination. And a Trump tweet these days remains a coveted prize in GOP circles normally reserved for sure electoral bets and battleground candidates.
Loomer recently made the speaker’s list for AMPFest 2020, an American Priority conference at Trump National Doral resort.
Frankel, meanwhile, has largely ignored Loomer. An institution in West Palm Beach, she brings a storied resume that precedes Loomer’s internet fame and even Trump’s political ambitions. A longtime state lawmaker and the first female minority leader in the Florida House, she enjoyed brief national stature during the 2000 recount. After term limits went into effect, Frankel turned to local politics and served as Mayor of West Palm Beach from 2003 until 2011, then won her seat in the U.S. House in 2013.
A smatter of national attention came to this race thanks to Loomer’s presence. The South Florida blogger earned a national following with provocative reports on controversial outlets like Project Veritas, a site best known for releasing secret recordings and skewed edits of liberal organizations. In 2015, she was suspended from Barry University for involvement in a sting trying to show the school supported ISIS, according to an expose site.
That’s certainly a different resume from Frankel, whose website touts her support for the Paris Climate Agreement and an endorsement from the South Florida Sun Sentinel. A list of progressive bonafides like support for expanded health care coverage and LGBTQ rights sits alongside some district specific issues like an unwavering support for Israel.
Wherever Trump’s vote went, it seems likely Frankel will be returning to Washington next year.
7 comments
S B ANTHONY
November 1, 2020 at 12:29 pm
Let’s hope there’s not enough loons out there to put Laura Looney in office.
Her winning a primary is scary enough.
James Robert Miles
November 1, 2020 at 2:31 pm
Looney loomer won the GOP primary because much of the Republican party is now comprised of right-wing nazi’s who hate America and are out to destroy everything that the U.S. stands for. Trump has brought them out from under their rocks and if the SOB wins than you can kiss the U.S. as we know it goodbye! VOTE HIM OUT, LOCK HIM UP!! THROW AWAY THE KEY! DUMP TRUMP 2020 Save America from becoming a fascist state!
Robert R Sands
November 1, 2020 at 7:05 pm
Congresswoman Frankel has been great for us here in Palm Beach County. She was also a really good mayor of West Palm Beach and I am sure that she will win in a landslide! Laura who?
Michael Trafalger
November 1, 2020 at 11:01 pm
Frankel has had her day. She is out of step. She does not support Israel, she does not support law enforcement, and she does not support the people of Palm Beach County. Unfortunately, she does support the socialist agenda of the far left radicals. She does support the D.C. corruption. We don’t need another lockdown.
We need some one that will represent the people of Palm Beach County. Not all Democrats are socialists, but all socialists are Democrats. Give Loomer a chance.
James Robert Miles
November 2, 2020 at 6:09 am
@Trafalger You are out of step with the people of Frankel’s district! They will NEVER elect luney loomer. She is far to much of a right-wing nazi! You’ll find out November 3rd!
Roger
November 2, 2020 at 9:00 pm
Pretty disgusting that you feel the need to call people names who don’t follow your stupid TDS filled ideology.
But then again, you’d rather have a CORRUPT FRANKEL than an honest Loomer representing you, right?
After all the “party” is a hell of a lot MORE IMPORTANT YOU right libs? Better to have someone who toes the party line than gives a damn about representing you!
FUD
November 3, 2020 at 12:09 am
Liberal logic: taxation creates wealth, censorship protects the truth, and Jews are Nazis
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