Rep. Ross Spano (R-Fla.) this week became the eighth member of the House of Representatives to lose in a primary this year.
Spano, 54, will serve just one term in the House after being defeated by Scott Franklin, a Lakeland city commissioner.
Voting tallies showed Franklin earning 51.2 percent of the vote, or about 1,500 more votes than Spano. Franklins huge lead in Polk County delivered him the win, despite Spano taking Hillsborough and Lake counties.
Franklin now faces Alan Cohn, a former reporter who won the Democrat nomination, for the 15th Congressional District seat.
Franklin was backed by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a well-known ally of President Donald Trump. Spano received support from House Republican leadership.
Franklin and Spano both tried to position themselves as the one who would better support Trump.
Neither had reacted to the results as of Wednesday morning.
A veteran, Franklin says on his campaign website that his priorities if elected would be fighting socialism, advancing Trumps agenda, and standing up for Christian values.
Cohn in a statement said his campaign is ready to take on Franklin, who he painted as an “out-of-touch millionaire who doesnt understand the lives of working people and their everyday challenges.”
Elsewhere in Florida, activist Laura Loomer earned the Republican nomination for Floridas 21st Congressional District, while Air Force veteran Anna Luna, another political newcomer, wonRead More From Source
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