GOP Congresswoman Laurel Lee avoids a ‘MAGA’-backed challenger in her bid for reelection

Republican U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee is breathing easier today, after the deadline for candidates to qualify to run in Florida’s 15^th Congressional District, which is part of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties.

As of Friday, she will participate in the August 20 GOP primary election.

Lee won a contested battle for the Florida seat in the GOP primary in 2022. But just last month, she was considered to be politically vulnerable after former President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform last month that he wanted someone to challenge her.

“Any great MAGA Republicans looking to run against Laurel Lee in Florida’s 15th Congressional District? IF SO, PLEASE STEP FORWARD!” the former president wrote.

The post was considered to be retribution for Lee being the only member of Florida’s Republican congressional delegation who endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and not Trump, for president. After DeSantis dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, Lee did officially back the former president for the GOP presidential nomination.

Lee is a former federal prosecutor who was appointed by then-Gov. Rick Scott in 2013 to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County. She then was appointed by DeSantis in 2019 to serve as Florida’s Secretary of State, a position she held until she resigned to run for the congressional seat in 2022.

Among the names who had been speculated to run included Maureen Bannon, the daughter of Steve Bannon, a prominent Republican who served as the White House’s chief strategist during the first year of Trump’s presidential administration.

Another Republican considered to be eyeing the race was former Tampa-based state legislator Jackie Toledo, who finished third behind Lee in the 2022 GOP primary election for CD 15. But Toledo announced on Thursday that she would not enter the contest.

“My fight is far from over, and I will continue working tirelessly until we make America great again! As a mom, I know that a mom’s mission is never over, and I will keep fighting for a better future for our children and our country,” Toledo said on X.

Two Republicans did qualify to run against Lee in the Republican primary: James Judge, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress against Democrat Kathy Castor in 2022, and Jennifer Barbosa, who ran (and lost) as an independent candidate for Congress in Southern California against Democrat Adam Schiff in 2020. She received 5.6% of the vote, according to Ballotpedia.

On the Democratic side, the lone candidate is Hillsborough County Commissioner Patricia “Pat” Kemp.