Republicans are flocking to Florida after previously running for Congress from other states, annoying one GOP strategist enough to complain the Sunshine State isn't a vehicle for them to "rehab" their images.
Axios reported Thursday night that a whopping five Republican candidates are running in Florida to replace Rep. Byron Donalds (R), who is mounting a campaign for governor.
That includes recently arrested former Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), disgraced former Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY), Ola Hawatmeh, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New York, former Illinois state senator Jim Oberweis, and Catalina Lauf, who lost to former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).
The race also includes Jim Schwartzel, president of Sun Broadcasting, Johnny Fratto, who tried to take on Rep. Mario Diaz Balart (R-FL), and retired Marine Mike Pedersen.
The influx of out-of-staters appeared to irk Florida Republican consultant Travis Horn, who told the outlet that while "virtually everyone" in Florida is from "somewhere else," he insisted, "We're not a state where everyone should think they can just come and run for office and rehab their image."