Rick Scott challenger withdraws from Senate race to run for House seat instead

Navy veteran and former congressional candidate Phil Ehr (D) announced Wednesday that he was dropping his bid for Sen. Rick Scott’s (R-Fla.) seat and instead running for the state’s 28th Congressional District.

“I am running to represent the people of South Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys with integrity. The incumbent joined MAGA extremists in creating dysfunction and chaos in Congress,” Ehr will say in prepared remarks, per a press release.

Ehr was referring to incumbent Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), who was among 20 Republicans who voted against Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) during the House Speakership vote Tuesday.

“Floridians want their individual freedoms protected and a democracy and economy that work for them. I will fight for this everyday in Congress,” he will add.

Ehr’s decision to exit the field, just months after launching his Senate bid in mid-July, helps clear the path for former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.) to run on the Democratic side against Scott. Businessman Matt Boswell and several others are also seeking the Democratic nomination, and former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) has filed paperwork for a run. 

Ehr last ran for Congress in 2020 against Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) in the state’s 1st Congressional District, losing to the Florida Republican by more than 30 points.