Republicans avert primary for Putnam’s seat

Republicans appear to have averted a potentially damaging primary in the race for Rep. Adam Putnam’s (R-Fla.) House seat.

Putnam is running for state agriculture commissioner rather than reelection, and the GOP has landed former state Rep. Dennis Ross as their candidate. But state Sen. Paula Dockery (R) threatened to throw a wrench in the race by exploring her own run.

On Tuesday, Dockery announced that she had ruled out a run for the seat.

“During that decision-making process, it became clear that my passion for public policy is in state government and not at the Federal level,” Dockery said in a statement. “Having said that, I can think of no one better to succeed Congressman Adam Putnam, then (sic) my dear friend and former colleague, Dennis Ross.”

Dockery’s choice of words (“state government”) is interesting, given that she is a possible gubernatorial candidate.

She would be something of a nuisance for the party there, too, with state Attorney General Bill McCollum garnering establishment support. But her impact would likely be mitigated in a high-profile race. A recent poll showed McCollum leading her 53-4.

As for the congressional race, Polk County elections supervisor Lori Edwards and former Putnam opponent Doug Tudor are running on the Democratic side.