Scott will challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday that he will challenge U. S. Sen Bill Nelson in an election that could be one of the most expensive and highly watched races in the nation.
Scott’s candidacy makes Florida a toss-up state in the battle to control Congress, according to national pundits.
The Republican is a multi-millionaire businessman who never ran for office before his successful governor’s race in 2010. He campaigned as part of the tea party movement and called for massive budget and tax cuts, but was forced to scale back his plans amid opposition from the GOP-controlled state Legislature. He also changed his hard-line positions on immigration.
Nelson, a Democrat, was elected to the U. S. Senate in 2000 after having served in the state Legislature and the U. S. House of Representatives.
University of Central Florida political scientist Aubrey Jewett said Scott rode a tea party wave into office and will now try to surf a potential Democratic wave to the nation’s capital.
“There’s a confluence of issues that may work against Republicans this year,” said Jewett. “There could be a counter wave of Trump supporters, it is not as likely but then again, they weren’t expected to show up in 2016.”
Scott is leaving office because of term limits and has been urged to challenge Nelson by President Trump.
Follow James Call on Twitter: @CallTallahassee
April 8: If Gov. Rick Scott runs for U. S. Senate from Florida, it’ll answer these five questions
April 1: Parkland, hurricanes and Trump shaping Florida Senate race between Rick Scott and Bill Nelson
