Florida GOP Rep. Posey abruptly announces retirement [View all]

Source: Politico

04/26/2024 03:43 PM EDT


TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla.) abruptly announced on Friday that he will not seek reelection, after initially planning to run for another term.

Posey’s announcement — if made earlier — could have easily attracted a spirited Republican primary, with politicians from the state’s Space Coast region already eyeing the seat once Posey retired. Florida’s 8th congressional district is a solid Republican seat.

Instead the 76-year-old incumbent’s announcement came shortly after qualifying officially ended and after his hand-picked replacement — former state Senate President Mike Haridopolos — had already quietly jumped into the race. In a statement posted online, Posey said that he was “looking forward to another spirited campaign for a final term in office.

However, earlier this week circumstances beyond my control now require me to suspend my re-election campaign.” Posey did not elaborate what caused his turnabout. He’s one of roughly two dozen Republican incumbents not returning to the lower chamber next year — all in safe seats — an unusually high number for a party in the majority.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/26/florida-bill-posey-retirement-00154658