Jacob Ogles
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan landed an important endorsement from former President Donald Trump. The support comes as the Longboat Key Republican faces a Primary challenge.
“Congressman Vern Buchanan is a terrific representative of the people of Florida,” Trump said in a statement released by the Save America PAC. “He is working hard to lower our Taxes, grow our Economy, support our Military and Vets, protect our Seniors, and defend our Second Amendment. Vern has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
Buchanan is running for a ninth term in the U.S. House. If the Republicans retake a majority in the chamber, he would also be the senior Republican on the Ways & Means Committee and a favorite to chair the most powerful committee in the House.
“I am honored to have the endorsement of President Trump,” Buchanan said. “I look forward to working with him to take back the House so we can put our economy back on track, get people back to work, and restore America’s greatness.”
But first, he must win re-election. This year, he faces a Primary challenge from Sarasota conservative activist Martin Hyde.
For some, the Trump endorsement may come as a surprise, as Hyde boasts support from Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, prominent voices in Trump’s sphere. Flynn, who briefly served as national security advisor to the Republican President, now lives in the Sarasota area, though south of Buchanan’s district.
However, while the Stone and Flynn endorsements made local headlines, they also lead to quotes surfacing from Hyde where he criticized Trump during the 2016 primaries.
Another interesting element of the Trump endorsement is that Buchanan was one of two Florida Republican Representatives who did not vote to object to certifying President Joe Biden’s victory over Trump. Buchanan had flirted with possibly joining the challenge, but ultimately issued a statement condemning the Jan. 6 riot that broke out as Trump supporters tried to disrupt the certification process.
But Buchanan also worked with Trump’s administration, including serving as a liaison between the White House and Congress during negotiations of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
In addition to facing Hyde in the Primary, two Democrats have also filed to challenge Buchanan. Jan Schneider, who has run unsuccessfully for the seat both against Buchanan and before he held the post, and political newcomer Benjamin Miranda-Padilla have both filed as well.
While neither candidate has the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to date, national Democrats have targeted Buchanan a number of times, including the last election cycles. But the incumbent fended off those challenges, defeating Democrat David Shapiro by nine percentage points in 2018 and Democrat Margaret Good by 11 points in 2020.
8 comments
Alex
December 20, 2021 at 5:33 pm
One kook is endorsed by Trump the pathological liar, and the other kook is endorsed by convicted criminals Stone and Flynn.
I love GQP infighting.
Evan Miller
December 21, 2021 at 10:30 am
I would say Biden is the pathological liar. “JOEY BABY”!!
Alex
December 21, 2021 at 10:42 am
I have the preponderance of the evidence, and the worst ones killed huge numbers of Americans.
Sister Sledge, Saint Mathurin Academy
December 21, 2021 at 12:30 pm
Yes, you would say that. For lack of anything intelligent to say, you would say that. But at least you spoke up, dear, and showed us your mind. I’ve always endorsed the idea of fools clearly labeling themselves rather than make the rest of us figure it out, which might take minutes of our precious time. So for that we thank you. Bless your heart.
Sister Sledge
December 21, 2021 at 12:38 pm
Another thing, Mr. Evan, blurting out phrases like “Joey Baby” makes you sound very, very lonely. Perhaps a Trump rally would be good for you, a place where you may mingle among like-minded (and clearly labeled) fellow Americans. You won’t have to do any hard thinking, all the thinking is done by the Donald, who expresses his thoughts in very clear third-grade phrases which he repeats many times to make himself perfectly clear (and well-labeled) to his flock. Bless your heart, and don’t forget to yell “Joey Baby” at the rally every chance you get.
AngieA
December 21, 2021 at 1:52 pm
Seems anyone voting for a Republican endorsed by “Individual 1” – an unindicted criminal co-conspirator, expects the candidate to emulate TFG.
Michelle
December 22, 2021 at 12:52 pm
I read this article when it first came out. It originally had some interesting comments and quotes from Martin Hyde. Now they are all gone. What gives??
Jake
December 22, 2021 at 1:35 pm
Yes Michelle you are correct. That’s just the corrupt Buchanan engine working. You will see a lot of that around here. Buchanan’s team continually grea$e$ the entire system as we move closer to the election. He’s been doing it for the past few election cycles. I will note that this is the first time I’ve seen him make such moves so early in a primary, which tells me he and/or his team are concerned about Hyde.
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