Phil Ehr drops out of U.S. Senate race, enters congressional race against Gimenez
Owen Girard contributed to this report.
MIAMI – Retired Navy Commander Phil Ehr said he is dropping out of Florida’s U.S. Senate Race in hopes of defeating U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., in the state’s 28th Congressional District.
“I am running to represent the people of South Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys with integrity,” Ehr said.
Ehr believes Gimenez’s seat could be vulnerable due to the GOP’s continued support for former President Donald Trump and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
“The incumbent joined MAGA extremists in creating dysfunction and chaos in Congress. Floridians want their individual freedoms protected and a democracy and economy that work for them,” Ehr’s statement continued.
Gaetz, who represents Florida’s 1st Congressional District, initiated the vote to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which has left the gavel in limbo.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, remains one of the leading candidates.
“It’s been over two weeks since the Gang of 8 joined all the socialists in Congress to remove our Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy,” Gimenez said on social media Thursday.
Former Democratic Rep. Debbie Murcasel-Powell endorsed Ehr this week.
Murcasel-Powell, who is running for Florida’s Senate seat against Republican Sen. Rick Scott, lost her congressional seat to Gimenez in the 2020 election.
Ehr has raised nearly $700,000 to challenge Gimenez, POLITICO reported. He also has $89,000 cash on hand according to his last Senate report. Gimenez has nearly $900,000 cash on hand for his reelection campaign the outlet reported.
