James Judge shifts congressional candidacy to challenge Laurel Lee in CD 15

Pasco County Republican James Judge will challenge U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican, in Florida’s 15th Congressional District.

The Coast Guard veteran said he is answering a call by former President Donald Trump to find a GOP Primary challenge to Lee.

That means Judge will drop a challenge to U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Palm Harbor Republican. But Judge argued that his presence in the race had already changed Bilirakis’ voting record in the right direction.

“In just six months, by shining a magnifying glass on my last opponent and holding him accountable, I was able to transform him from a D-rated Republican, a Congressman who voted about 60% of the time in-line with the Constitution, to a nearly A-rated conservative, who now aligns with the House Freedom Caucus,” Judge said.

“I’m asking voters to imagine what I could do with a full two-year term in Washington, where I pledge to hold the rest of Congress accountable.”

The decision also comes days after Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP nominee for President, endorsed Bilirakis for re-election over Judge.

That’s a different situation from CD 15, where Trump has openly encouraged a challenge to Lee.

“Any great MAGA Republicans looking to run against Laurel Lee in Florida’s 15th Congressional District? IF SO, PLEASE STEP FORWARD!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Lee was the only Republican in Florida’s congressional delegation to endorse Gov. Ron DeSantis for president this year, but she switched her endorsement to Trump a day after DeSantis suspended his campaign.

By contrast, Bilirakis endorsed Trump last April, shortly before DeSantis launched his campaign.

Judge called Lee’s voting record in her first term in Congress “shockingly terrible.”

“I believe fixing Congress isn’t as difficult as people make it out to be. We just need to elect officials who realize they will stand before God one day and give an account for their actions and inactions,” Judge said.

“It’s important to note my focus remains the same. I am running to end the anarchy at the southern border, restore law-and-order nationwide, balance the budget and pay down our national debt, something the Congresswoman has demonstrated she is adamantly against.”

He pointed at Freedom Index and Republican Liberty Caucus indexes that put her voting record at 50% and 55%, respectively.

“When your job is to support and defend the Constitution, these aren’t just failing grades, I’d say she is virtually working as a Democrat,” Judge said. “Equally disturbing are the special interest groups who are funding her campaign.”

Judge also ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa Democrat, in 2022.

Judge is the second GOP candidate since Trump issued a call for challengers to announce a run against Lee. New Port Richey Republican Brian Perras has filed with the Federal Election Commission as a candidate.