Jacob Ogles
Lake County GOP leader Anthony Sabatini has ended his candidacy for Congress after former President Donald Trump endorsed incumbent U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster.
Sabatini said he will instead run for Lake County Commission.
“Today, Donald Trump endorsed the incumbent in my race,” Sabatini posted on X. “I don’t always agree with Donald Trump’s endorsements, but I understand the political reality of what they are. Tonight, I am withdrawing from District 11, and I will be running for the Lake County Commission. We need stronger Republicans in local office fighting for the America 1st agenda. District 11 will have to wait for another day.”
The Lake County Republican’s exit from the contest in Florida’s 11th Congressional District largely clears the path for Webster to win an eighth term in the U.S. House.
Webster notably has been running for months with the “Trump Seal of Approval,” something granted after Webster endorsed Trump for President last year. Sabatini actually sued Webster for claiming he had an endorsement when Trump had never issued a formal statement backing Webster’s re-election.
But that changed on Thursday, the same day the presumptive GOP presidential nominee met with congressional Republicans, including Webster, in Washington. He endorsed Webster later on Truth Social.
“Congressman Daniel Webster is doing a terrific job representing Florida’s 11th Congressional District,” Trump wrote.
“As a successful businessman, Daniel knows how to Fight Inflation, Grow the Economy, Lower Taxes, and Eliminate Government Waste. Daniel is working hard to Secure the Border, Protect our Elections, Support our Great Military/Veterans, and Defend our always-under-siege Second Amendment. Daniel Webster has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Webster, who was among Republican members of Congress to attend Trump’s felony trial in New York in support of the former President, welcomed the formal support.
“I am humbled and honored to receive President Donald Trump’s Complete & Total Endorsement in my race for Congress!” Webster posted on social media. “Our Country is in crisis, the border has been left undefended, and inflation is hurting the budgets of everyday Americans. I look forward to putting an end to this (President Joe) Biden-manufactured crisis with President Trump back in the White House.”
“In this time of Biden-created crises America needs proven leaders who will be public servants, not just aspiring career politicians,” Webster later said in a statement. “This is the 2nd time Anthony Sabatini filed against me for Florida’s 11th District just to later withdraw from the race. After seeing his defeat against Rep. Cory Mills last cycle, I had hoped Anthony would reflect and run a campaign focused on the grave issues facing our Country. Instead, he continued to lower himself with lies and mistruths about my proven conservative record until nothing remained of his character. America needs President Trump now more than ever and I am focused on making sure he is back in the White House come January and look forward to being his ally in Congress over the next 4 years.”
Webster still technically faces opposition in the Primary and General Elections. In April, John McCloy qualified for the GOP Primary in CD 11. Democrat Barbie Harden Hall qualified as well. But Sabatini was the only one with significant finances, even if dwarfed by Webster’s.
“Sabatini’s exit changes nothing in this race,” Hall said. “Daniel Webster is simply a less overt version of Sabatini, and just as willing to imprison anyone who looks or thinks differently than him. He shares the same draconian restrictions on women’s bodies and continues to embrace convicted felon Donald Trump with open arms. Webster wants to strip away the ability to retire with dignity from our senior citizens and shows no concern for working and middle-class Americans.”
“My focus is to give a voice to everyday Americans in Congress,” she added. “Those who have been ignored by Daniel Webster for over a decade.”
At the close of the first quarter, Webster had nearly $599,000 in cash on hand, compared to Sabatini’s just under $128,000. McCloy had less than $3,000, and Hall had about $11,000.
