U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster will retire from Congress

After 16 years in Congress, U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster will retire next year.

A Republican from Clermont, Webster, 77, announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection. He has held elected office since 1980, starting in the Florida House.

“It has been an honor and privilege to represent my beloved state in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Webster said in a news release.

“I’ve never taken for granted my responsibility to Florida’s hardworking taxpayers and families to advance common-sense reforms and principled policy. The time has come to pass the torch to the next conservative leader and spend more precious time with my wife, children, and 24 grandchildren.”

Webster’s decision makes him the 36th Republican in the House to forego another term. Another two are Reps. Vern Buchanan and Neal Dunn, both Floridians.

In addition, Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned her seat representing Florida’s 20th Congressional District last week, just before she was set to appear before the House Ethics Committee amid allegations of stealing disaster money.

Webster’s district, west of Orlando, includes The Villages, Leesburg, Apopka, and Lake Butler.

History

Webster’s first run for the U.S. House in 2010 was boosted by an endorsement from former Gov. Jeb Bush.

In 2022, Laura Loomer ran against Webster in the GOP primary. Webster won with 51% of the vote compared to Loomer’s 44%.

In 2012, Webster faced Democrat Val Demings in the general election. Webster won with 51.7% of the vote compared to Demings’ 48.3%.

Webster handily won all other runs for his U.S. House seat.

Before joining Congress, Webster spent 10 years in the Florida Senate, including two years as majority leader.

He spent 18 years, from 1980-1998, in the Florida House of Representatives. His last two years in that chamber he served as speaker.

He was the first Republican speaker of the Florida House since 1874. Before that, he was the chamber’s minority leader.

‘Finishing strong’

“There is much work left to do before this Congress closes and I am fully focused on finishing strong,” Webster said in his announcement.

Webster is chair of the House subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

“I will keep working to get bills over the finish line that will leverage private investment to finance public infrastructure projects; ensure America — not China or any other adversary — remains the leader in space exploration; and that the United States will set the standards that protect our technological advantages,” Webster said.

Politico reported last month that Webster was skeptical about Florida’s push for congressional redistricting, telling the outlet it “can come back and bite you.”

His announcement not to seek reelection came on the first day of the Florida Legislature’s special session on redistricting.