Former President Donald Trump is actively seeking a Republican candidate to challenge Rep. Laurel Lee, the only member of Florida’s congressional delegation who endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis during his presidential campaign, which unfortunately did not succeed.
Lee, who emerged victorious in a competitive GOP primary two years ago in a reliably conservative district, previously held the position of Florida’s chief election officer under DeSantis. Despite facing pressure from a faction of vocal Republicans and Trump supporters, she stood firm in her decision not to conduct a comprehensive audit of the 2020 election in the state. At the time, DeSantis also dismissed calls for an audit of the results, which clearly indicated Trump’s three-percentage-point victory over current President Joe Biden in Florida.
Late Sunday night, Trump took to his social media platform to express his desire for a candidate to step up and run against Lee in the central Florida district.
“Are there any strong MAGA Republicans who are interested in running against Laurel Lee in Florida’s 15th Congressional District? If so, please come forward!” Trump expressed on Truth Social.
Lee did not provide a comment when requested on Monday.
In April 2023, Lee publicly endorsed her former boss before he officially entered the presidential race. Among the Florida delegation, she stood alone in her support, as most other members backed Trump. This lack of support from Florida’s congressional delegation marked the beginning of a lackluster campaign that failed to ignite enthusiasm among Republicans.
After finishing in a distant second place in Iowa, DeSantis ended his campaign, prompting Lee to switch her endorsement to Trump.
Roughly a month before the qualifying deadline for congressional races, Trump is urging Republicans to challenge Lee. However, according to federal campaign finance records, no GOP candidates have filed to run against Lee at the moment.
The possibility of securing a Trump endorsement seems to be a significant driving force for anyone considering a late entry into the race.
Jackie Toledo, a former Republican state legislator, expressed her readiness to serve as a “Great MAGA Republican” in a social media post on Monday. Despite her third-place finish in the 2022 primary, which ultimately saw Lee emerge as the winner, Toledo remains committed to answering the call and contributing to her party’s cause.
In 2019, Lee, who is married to former state Senate President Tom Lee, assumed the position of Secretary of State in the DeSantis administration. She was appointed to replace Mike Ertel, who resigned following the circulation of photographs depicting him in blackface, portraying a Hurricane Katrina victim.
She decided to step down from her position in order to run for Florida’s newly-created 15th district. This congressional seat, which leans Republican, encompasses the suburbs surrounding Tampa and extends into the conservative Polk County.
As the head of the state’s election office, Lee faced numerous lawsuits regarding a range of contentious election laws championed by DeSantis and the GOP-controlled Legislature. These laws encompassed various measures such as the implementation of restrictions on drop boxes and the imposition of voting restrictions on individuals with criminal records.
Despite facing threats, she stood her ground against Republicans who were pushing for an audit of Florida’s 2020 election. These calls were fueled by Trump’s baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud. She remained steadfast in her belief that the state’s elections were conducted smoothly and encountered minimal issues.
During her time in Congress, Lee has consistently aligned herself with the Republican party. However, there have been instances where she has diverged from the viewpoints of certain conservative members in the state of Florida. A notable example is her support for the $1.2 trillion spending package, a decision shared by only six Republican representatives from Florida, which ultimately ensured the continued operation of the federal government.
