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Hasner announces campaign switch

Posted Feb 1, 2012 by William March

Updated Feb 1, 2012 at 06:53 PM

Adam Hasner has made it official, announcing he’ll leave the U.S. Senate race and run for the U.S. House from the 22nd District instead.

Hasner’s move is the result of a series of falling dominoes involving U.S. Reps. Allen West and Tom Rooney.

West, who currently represents District 22—even though he doesn’t live there—is going to run for the new 18th district being created in the state Legislature’s redistricting. That’s because District 22 will get more Democratic under the redistricting plan.

Much of the new 18th District consists of the old 16th District, which is essentially cut in half in the redistricting plan, and has been represented by Tom Rooney. Rooney has announced he’ll run in the new District 17—unless the district map changes signficantly in the courts.

In the Senate race, the net effect is to leave the Republican primary a contest between Rep. Connie Mack IV of Fort Myers, and George LeMieux, with Mike McCalister the dark horse, who hasn’t been able to get traction so far in the primary.

The change only solidifies Mack’s position as frontrunner in part because of the name recognition he inherits from his father, former Sen. Connie Mack III, and in part because of LeMieux’s need to overcome his long association with former Gov. Charlie Crist.

Earlier this week, another comparatively little-known candidate, Craig Miller, former head of the Ruth’s Chris steak house chain, announced he’ll also leave the Senate race to run for the House in the new District 7, on the east coast from St. John’s to Putnam counties.

The reaction from LeMieux: “The US Senate race is now in clearer focus.  Connie Mack Jr. (meaning Connie Mack IV) currently leads in the polls but there is no doubt his lead stems entirely from having a well known name, inherited from his respected father and great-grandfather.”

He added, “Florida Republicans deserve a campaign, not a coronation. ... There is too much at stake to simply hand the Senate seat over to someone with a famous last name.