Florida Gov. Rick Scott announces Senate run
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) will run for U.S. Senate, hoping to unseat three-term incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson (D), in what could become one of the most contentious and expensive Senate races this year.
The term-limited governor confirmed widespread speculation that he was planning to run, in an interview with Politico published Monday morning.
“You’re probably surprised, but I’m going to announce I’m running for senator,” he said. “You’re shocked, right?”
Scott, a businessman and health care executive before he entered politics in 2010, has already raised more than a million dollars through his super PAC and met with GOP donors last month.
President Donald Trump has frequently urged Scott to run. Democrats, who hope to make November’s midterm elections a referendum on Trump, will undoubtedly tie the president to Scott, one of his major allies.
But Scott, who has recently broken with the Trump administration on a few issues, dismissed the idea that he was “a Donald Trump Republican.” Scott recently opposed the Interior Department’s plan to dramatically expand offshore oil drilling and Trump’s desire to train certain teachers to carry guns to help prevent mass shootings.
More on Florida Governor Rick Scott:
“If it’s good for us, I’m going to support what the White House wants to do,” he said Monday. “If it’s not good for Florida, I’m going to oppose. I’m not going to be a rubber stamp for anybody.”
Scott has frequently reversed his positions on top issues like offshore drilling and Medicaid expansion. Last month, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee already started running digital ads accusing him of “looking out for himself, not doing what’s best for Floridians.” Last week, the DSCC launched a website called SelfServingScott.com.
Scott is expected to make his official announcement in Orlando at 10 a.m. Monday.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
