As some of you have paid attention to the regular monthly Congressional races my Knowledge Democrats group and I cover (ones where we focus on Democratic candidates against GOP incumbents/Democratic candidates against open races in red districts), you can figure we are very data and information driven and we are keeping a close eye out for new races.
However, the biggest WTF moment of the 2014 campaign season has got to be the decision of current Democratic Candidate Nick Ruiz in Florida's 7th Congressional District (where Rep. Jon Mica serves) to now take a completely different turn and run against Rep. Alan Grayson in Florida's 9th Congressional District.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/...
Nick Ruiz, a philosophy and humanities professor at the University of Florida who had been running for Congress in District 7 against Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica, announced Wednesday morning he would run instead in District 9, pitting him against fellow Democrat U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson.
A press release from Ruiz's campaign did not mention his previous efforts in District 7 or explain why he would switch, except to note that he considers District 9, which includes his childhood town of Kissimmee, as his home district. He previously listed New Smyrna Beach, which is in District 7, as his hometown.
In 2012 he lost the Democratic primary in District 7.
Furthermore:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/...
"Nick Ruiz (D-FL) today announced he would run for U.S. Congress in Florida District 9, the same district where Alan Grayson (D-FL) is the current representative. Both candidates are Democrats, meaning Ruiz and Grayson would face each other in a Democratic primary election this August. Several Republicans are already in a primary race for the Republican party slot.
"Dr. Ruiz said: "After the congressional redistricting process, it became clear that my hometown would constitute most of FL-9. I grew up in Kissimmee and South Orlando. Many of my friends and most of my family live in FL-9. I recently buried my grandfather there, just down the road from where I went to middle school. I'm passionate about all of Florida, having lived here since 1980, but my heart is in this district. I've attended the schools and churches in this district, lived and worked in it, and understand the needs of the community and people. I feel I can best represent it in the U.S. Congress."
Not to throw Nick Ruiz against the wall (and I'm not) but does he realize he's running against one of the best progressive Democrats we have in the House of Representatives? Yes, Alan Grayson, the outspoken, no B.S. progressive Democrat who has been a fighter against any Democrat in Congress supporting the efforts on chained CPI.
Don't know what Ruiz is thinking but what is he accomplishing by running against Grayson when it's pretty evident that running against a GOP incumbent like John Mica (who due to PPP polling last October became more vulnerable after the government shutdown) would be more productive? He certainly has a right to run against Grayson but doesn't mean we have to agree with him, right?
I'll let you guys take over this discussion so feel free to chime in with any thoughts.
2:08 PM PT: FYI, in case any of you are curious, since Nick Ruiz is now running in FL-09 (being NUTS), there's still a Democratic candidate running in FL-07.
His name is Wesley Neuman. Info below:
Website: http://wesneuman.com/
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