In a heated Florida Senate race where one candidate has claimed nearly all the endorsements of elected officials, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, another just landed perhaps the biggest one of all.
Former President Donald Trump’s backing of David Shoar in the state Senate District 7 race against state Rep. Tom Leek and former professional athlete Gerry James would seem to be the holy grail of endorsements. Shoar is a former four-term St. Johns County sheriff.
Trump called Shoar a “tremendous America First Patriot” in a capitol letter-happy Truth Social post Saturday.
This Truth Social post by former President Donald Trump endorses David Shoar for Florida Senate District 7 in the Aug. 20 Republican primary.
“A Gulf War Army Veteran, David bravely served our Country and has continued to fight to protect our Communities as St. Johns County Sheriff,” the post states. “David Shoar, who is 100% MAGA, and has been with us from the very beginning, has my Complete and Total Endorsement − HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Leek, an Ormond Beach attorney, endorsed Trump only after the former president had knocked out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the presidential primary. Leek was among 100 state lawmakers to endorse DeSantis for president last year.
Both Leek and Shoar − and their backers − have engaged in a knockdown, drag-out fight involving television ads and mailers featuring accusations against one another of being liberal.
Leek blames trial lawyers for backing Shoar’s campaign through PAC donations that have funded the TV ad blitz.
Shoar: ‘Deeply honored and grateful’
Shoar responded with a prepared statement in a news release.
A campaign mailer sent by the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee associates backers of candidate David Shoar with the Lincoln Project, a never-Trump organization cofounded by Florida political consultant Rick Wilson. The ad includes a quote from Wilson taken from 2015, nine years before the assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
“I am deeply honored and grateful for President Trump’s endorsement,” the statement reads. “I have stood with President Trump from the beginning in 2016 and will always have his back. I will fight side by side with President Trump to stop the Radical Left, protect our country from illegal immigration, and make our state and nation affordable again.”
Shoar, who was attacked in a Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign flier as a backer of the never-Trump Lincoln Project, blamed power brokers for backing Leek, who has raised about $7 million between his campaign and political committees.
“The Tallahassee establishment is spending millions attacking me because just like President Trump, I can’t be bought or controlled by the powers that be. I will drain the swamp in Tallahassee and fight for the needs of our citizens,” Shoar said.
Leek: ‘Proud to cast my vote for President Trump’
In response to a message seeking comment, Leek texted The News-Journal: “I’m honored to have been chosen by the Trump campaign and the Republican Party of Florida as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, and was proud to cast my vote for President Trump to lead our country. I look forward both to his victory in November and my victory on August 20th.”
Florida Senate District 7 candidate Tom Leek, an Ormond Beach Republican, has been the subject of attack ads like this. He says trial lawyers who opposed his tort reform advocacy are behind the attacks in a heated Republican primary with two opponents.
Leek has been the House Appropriations chair the past two years and is a potential future Senate president. In addition to DeSantis, Leek has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, U.S. Reps. Michael Waltz and Cory Mills, House Speaker Paul Renner, incoming Senate President Ben Albritton, the four sheriffs whose counties are part of District 7 and others.
He, too, has been a target of ads attacking him as a liberal who has gotten rich working for an insurance brokerage while Floridians have seen their homeowners’ rates soar. Shoar, who entered the race late, has been helped by attack ads funded by a PAC called The Truth Matters, which has received more than $3 million from another PAC, Floridians for Accountability, Freedom and Opportunity. That PAC has raised more than $4 million, mostly from lawyers and law firms, since the end of last year.
Election already under way
One question that remains is whether Trump’s endorsement comes too late, as some vote-by-mail ballots have already been returned.
All of Flagler and Putnam counties are in District 7, but parts also extend north into St. Johns and south into Volusia.
While primary elections have generated about 24% turnout in Florida this century, Volusia County had only gotten a 7% turnout through Friday. Flagler County is at 6%, Putnam County (3%) and St. Johns (2%).
Polling, including a McLaughlin & Associates survey from the end of June, has shown Leek ahead by double digits. A July 3 memo obtained by The News-Journal showed Leek ahead of Shoar 39% to 20%, with James following at 9%.
The Senate seat is open due to Travis Hutson reaching his limit of two consecutive four-year terms.
Trump also endorses Webster Barnaby
In a separate post, Trump backed state Rep. Webster Barnaby, R-Deltona, in his bid for re-election. Barnaby, who does not have a primary opponent, faces Democrat Rosemarie Latham in the Nov. 5 general election.
Trump said Barnaby is “doing a fantastic job” in growing the economy, securing the border and defending the Second Amendment, posting: “Webster Barnaby has my Complete and Total Endorsement − HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Donald Trump makes endorsement in Florida Senate District 7 primary
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Publish date : 2024-08-05 05:18:00
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