In this diary I outlined a method for finding vulnerable Republican representatives.
Now, it's time for more research. Twitter handles. Positions. Dumbass statements. A start on this is below the fold; since this involves a lot of work and a lot of text, I'm dividing it up by state. Previously California and Colorado. Today, Florida!
Oh, and if YOU have information on these people, PLEASE share it.
In FL-02 Obama got 46.5%, while Steve Southerland got 52.7% to Al Lawson's 47.2%. FL-02 is the eastern part of the panhandle and includes Tallahassee. Southerland was first elected in 2010, when he ousted incumbent Allen Boyd. In 2012, his major donors included health professionals and the retirement industry. He raised $1.8 million to Lawson's $700,000. Southerland tweets as @Rep_Southerland.
Southerland has been endorsed by the Citizens United Political Victory Fund, Florida Right to Life, Gun Owners of America, the NRA and the Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, Southerland will have a strong opponent: Gwen Graham. Her website is here.
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In FL-07 Obama got 47.1% while John Mica got 58.7% to Jason Kendall's 41.3%. FL-07 is Orlando. Mica was first elected in 1992 in an open seat. In 2012, his major donors included the transportation and construction industries and law firms. In 2012, he out raised his opponent hugely: Mica raised about $2 million, his opponent raise essentially 0. The last time Mica has faced a seriously funded opponent was 2002. Mica tweets as @RepJohnMica. There is also a spoof account: @CongressmanRug, which makes fun of him.
Mica was endorsed by Florida Right to Life, Huck Pac and the NRA. In 2014, Mica will have an opponent, Nick Ruiz (in the linked post, Ruiz touts his progressive credentials, blasts Mica (he compares Mica to a "pig's anus), Ruiz ran as a Green last time, but appears to want the Democratic nomination in 2014 Web page sounds like the dream of most Kossacks.
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Obama got 45.7% in FL-10 where Dan Webster beat Val Demings 51.7% to 48.3%. FL-10 is west of Orlando, more or less the center of the state. Webster is the guy who beat Alan Grayson in 2010. In 2012, Webster got major donations from the real estate and retirement industries. Webster was actually out-raised by his challenger ($1.5 to $2.0 million). He tweets as @RepWebster.
Webster has been endorsed by Associated Builders, Florida Right to Life, Huck Pac, the NRA and the Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, the Democrats want Demings to run again, but she has not made up her mind.
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In FL-13 Obama got 50.1% while the increasingly incorrectly named C.W.Bill Young beat Jessica Ehrlich 57.6% to 42.4%. FL-13 is on the gulf coast and includes Clearwater. Bill Young has been in congress since 1970 (he was born in 1930). He is the only person in congress without a high school diploma; his personal story is actually appealing - he dropped out to support his family - but his politics are odious. His major donors in 2012 were related to the defense industry. In 2012, he raised $1 million and his opponent raised $500,000. He tweets as (get this!) @CW1PercentYoung .
Young has been endorsed by Associated Builders, Florida Right to Life, the NRA and the Chamber of Commerce.It is possible that Young will retire this year (he is raising less money than he usually does); if he does retire, FL-13 is a prime pick-up opportunity. There are no announced Democratic candidates yet, but Ehrlich may run again.
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Obama got 45.6% in FL-15 which gave Dennis Ross was unopposed. FL-15 is northeast of Tampa. Ross was first elected in 2010 to FL-12, which was an open seat. He got relatively little money in 2012, not surprising since he was unopposed. Lifetime, he's gotten a lot of money from the insurance and food industries. He tweets as @RepDennisRoss.
Ross has been endorsed by the NRA and the Chamber of Commerce. He has no opponents yet.
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Obama got 48.7% in FL-25 where Mario Diaz-Balart had no Democratic opponent. FL-25 is between the gulf and the Atlantic, west of Boca Raton. Diaz-Balart was first elected in 2002. He didn't raise much in 2012 or 2010. Lifetime, his biggest donors have been the real estate and legal professions. He tweets as @MarioDB.
He has been endorsed by the NRA, Florida right to life and the Chamber of Commerce. I have not found any opponents registered against him in 2014.
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In FL-27 Obama got 53.1% while Ileana Ros-Lehtinen got 60.2% to Manny Yevancey's 36.9%. FL-27 is on the Atlantic coast, including parts of Miami and points south of there. Ros Lehtinen was first elected in 1989. In 2012, her biggest donor was Pro-Israel PAC. Her opponent in 2012 raised (per Open Secrets) no money at all. The last time she faced a well funded opponent was in 2008. She tweets as @RosLehtinen.
She has been endorsed by Associated Builders, Florida Right to Life, the NRA and the Chamber of Commerce. I found no announced candidates, but this should be on the radar. Yevancey got what he got with no money at all.
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Sources:
Wikipedia, DKE, Open Secrets, Twitter, Organizing for America, Vote Smart, CREW, Ballotopedia.
Here is a map of FL's congressional districts
Still to come:
IA-03 Latham, Tom 51.4
IL-13 Davis, Rodney 48.6
MI-06 Upton, Fred 48.8
MI-07 Walberg, Tim 47.9
MI-08 Rogers, Mike J. 48.0
MI-11 Bentivolio, Kerry 46.9
MN-02 Kline, John 49.1
MN-03 Paulsen, Erik 49.6
NE-02 Terry, Lee 45.7
NV-03 Heck, Joe 49.5
NJ-03 Runyan, Jon 51.8
NJ-05 Garrett, Scott 47.9
NJ-07 Lance, Leonard 46.3
NJ-11 Frelinghuysen, Rodney 46.6
NY-02 King, Peter 51.6
NY-11 Grimm, Michael 51.6
NY-22 Hanna, Richard 48.8
NY-23 Reed, Tom 48.4
OH-01 Chabot, Steve 46.3
OH-10 Turner, Michael 48.2
OH-14 Joyce, David 47.6
PA-06 Gerlach, Jim 48.1
PA-07 Meehan, Pat 48.5
PA-15 Dent, Charlie 47.9
VA-02 Rigell, Scott 50.1
VA-04 Forbes, Randy 48.8
VA-10 Wolf, Frank 48.8
WA-03 Herrera Beutler, Jaime 47.9
PA-16 Pitts, Joe 46.3
OH-15 Stivers, Steve 46.3
VA-05 Hurt, Robert 45.9
WI-01 Ryan, Paul 47.4
WI-06 Petri, Tom 45.8
WI-07 Duffy, Sean 47.8
WI-08 Ribble, Reid 47.6