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The2014 special election forFlorida's 19th congressional district was held on June 24, 2014, following partyprimary elections which were held on April 22. The election was held to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation ofTrey Radel from theUnited States House of Representatives . Radel resigned on January 27, 2014, two months after he was arrested for possession of cocaine.Curt Clawson was elected as the new U.S. Representative.
On October 29, 2013, Radel was arrested in the District of Columbia for purchasing 3.5 grams (0.12 oz) ofcocaine from an undercover officer.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] Lee County, Florida .[ 5]
Radel announced that he would be taking a leave of absence from Congress to undergo addiction rehabilitation and that he would be donating his salary to charity during his absence.[ 6] Republican Party of Florida and GovernorRick Scott called on Radel to "resign immediately" and "focus his attention on rehabilitation and his family".[ 1] [ 7] House Ethics Committee began an investigation. On January 27, he decided to announce his resignation, effective that evening.[ 2] [ 3] primary election , and June 24 for the general election.[ 8]
The News-Press Clawson and Kreegel all attacked each other, with Benacquisto attacked for being "liberal" and an ex-Democrat; Clawson as an uncaring businessman who laid off workers and drove his company into bankruptcy; and Kreegel as a "win-at-all-costs conniver" who violated election laws. Dreikorn, was considered to have little chance and largely refrained from attacking his fellow candidates, calling for an end to the "political infighting".[ 9]
In April 2014, Benacquisto, Dreikorn and Kreegel attacked Clawson over his links to convicted child molester Glen Borst, who was a childhood friend of Clawson and whose last known address was a house in Utah that Clawson owned.[ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13]
Clawson won the primary with 38% of the vote.
Lizbeth Benacquisto
Politicians
Gary Aubuchon , former state representative and candidate for the seatin 2012 [ 22] Diane Black , U.S. Representative (R-TN)[ 23] Matt Caldwell , state representative[ 24] Jason Chaffetz , U.S. Representative (R-UT)[ 25] Mario Díaz-Balart , U.S. Representative (R-FL)[ 26] Dane Eagle , state representative[ 27] Mike Huckabee , formergovernor of Arkansas [ 28] Sarah Palin , formergovernor of Alaska and 2008vice presidential nominee [ 29] Sandra Mortham , formerSecretary of State of Florida [ 30] Kathleen Passidomo , state representative[ 24] Garrett Richter , state senator[ 31] Ray Rodrigues , state representative[ 27] Francis Rooney , formerUnited States Ambassador to the Holy See [ 32] Tom Rooney , U.S. Representative (R-FL)[ 26] Aaron Schock , U.S. Representative (R-IL)[ 33] Ann Wagner , U.S. Representative (R-MO) and formerUnited States Ambassador to Luxembourg [ 23] Organizations
Poll source Date(s) Sample Margin of Lizbeth Curt Michael Paige Undecided Public Policy Polling [ 40] April 14–16, 2014 669 ± 3.8% 19% 38% 18% 17% 7% St. Pete Polls [ 41] April 9, 2014 759 ± 3.6% 25.5% 29.8% 11% 21.3% 12.3%
Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s) Sample Margin of Lizbeth Chauncey Paige Connie Undecided St. Pete Polls [ 42] January 27, 2014 1,284 ± 2.7% 32.5% 15.3% 9.6% 22.3% 20.3%
Florida's 19th congressional district, 2014 (special)[ 47] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Republican Curt Clawson 66,922 66.92% +4.93% Democratic April Freeman 29,314 29.32% −6.52% Libertarian Ray Netherwood 3,729 3.73% N/A Independent Timothy J. Rossano (write-in) 24 0.02% N/A Total votes '99,989' '100.0%' N/A Republican hold
^a b "Trey Radel: Florida Republicans urge cocaine congressman to quit" .BBC News . RetrievedNovember 26, 2013 .^a b Ledyard King (January 27, 2014)."Rep. Trey Radel to resign after drug plea" .USA Today . RetrievedJanuary 27, 2014 . ^a b Marty, Robin."Trey Radel to resign House seat" .Politico . RetrievedJanuary 27, 2014 . ^ Sherman, Jake (November 20, 2013)."Trey Radel pleads guilty to cocaine possession" .Politico . RetrievedNovember 20, 2013 . ^ "Defying GOP Leaders, Rep. Trey Radel Won't Resign After Rehab" . WYSO. RetrievedJanuary 27, 2014 .^ Sherman, Jake."Trey Radel taking leave of absence from Congress" .Politico . RetrievedNovember 20, 2013 . ^ Henderson, Jeff (November 28, 2013)."Republicans Gear Up to Replace Trey Radel in Congress" . Sunshine State News. Archived fromthe original on April 8, 2022. RetrievedNovember 29, 2013 . ^ "Gov. Scott sets special election to replace Radel" .The Hill . January 31, 2014. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 .^ Ledyard King (March 21, 2014)."Dirty politics: Republican primary for House takes nasty turn" .The News-Press . RetrievedApril 9, 2014 . ^ Kevin Derby (April 8, 2014)."Curt Clawson Faces Heat Over Ties to Child Molester" . Sunshine State News. RetrievedApril 9, 2014 . ^ Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster (April 8, 2014)."Curt Clawson opponents call for him to explain ties to child assaulter; he responds" . Naples News. RetrievedApril 9, 2014 . ^ Heather Wysocki (April 9, 2014)."Rivals link Clawson to sex offender; victim's mother asks them to stop" .The News-Press . RetrievedApril 9, 2014 . ^ Greg Stanley (April 9, 2014)."Curt Clawson speaks out, attends press conference hosted by GOP opponents" . Naples News. RetrievedApril 10, 2014 . ^ Marc Caputo (February 3, 2014)."Goss Out, Benacquisto Running For Radel Seat (Updated)" . Roll Call. RetrievedFebruary 3, 2014 . ^a b Jaffe, Alexandra (January 27, 2014)."Crowded field forming to succeed Radel" .The Hill . RetrievedJanuary 27, 2014 . ^ "Candidates and Races - Candidate Tracking system - Florida Division of Elections - Department of State" . Election.dos.state.fl.us. Archived fromthe original on August 31, 2010. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 .^ "Florida's 19th District" . Dreikorn For Congress. Archived fromthe original on March 1, 2014. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 .^ Peter Schorsch (February 3, 2014)."Benacquisto, Kreegel Off and Running in SW Florida Congressional Special Election" . Sunshine State News. Archived fromthe original on February 20, 2014. RetrievedFebruary 3, 2014 . ^a b Marc Caputo (November 20, 2013)."U.S. Rep. Trey Radel's GOP primary nightmare: FL Sen. Republican leader Lizbeth Benacquisto" .Miami Herald . RetrievedNovember 26, 2013 . ^ "Byron Donalds decides not to run for Congress" .Naples News . RetrievedMarch 21, 2024 .^ Marc Caputo (January 29, 2014)."Connie Mack won't run for Radel's vacated seat" .Tallahassee Democrat . RetrievedJanuary 29, 2014 . ^ Derby, Kevin (March 6, 2014)."Gary Aubuchon backs Lizbeth Benacquisto for Congress" . Sunshine State News. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 . ^a b "House Republican Women Endorse in Florida Special Primary | At the Races" . Atr.rollcall.com. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 .^a b "Conservatives Trust Lizbeth Benacquisto" . Archived from the original on April 18, 2014. RetrievedApril 21, 2014 .^ Nielsen, Allison (February 28, 2014)."Rep. Jason Chaffetz Endorses Lizbeth Benacquisto" . Sunshine State News. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 . ^a b Derby, Kevin (March 10, 2014)."Tom Rooney and Mario Diaz-Balart back Lizbeth Benacquisto for Congress" . Sunshine State News. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 . ^a b Derby, Kevin (March 11, 2014)."Dane Eagle endorses Lizbeth Benacquisto for Congress" . Sunshine State News. Archived fromthe original on May 20, 2014. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 . ^ Derby, Kevin (April 7, 2014)."Mike Huckabee endorses Lizbeth Benacquisto for Congress" . Sunshine State News. Archived fromthe original on April 8, 2014. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 . ^ "Sarah Palin joins Naples fundraiser for Benacquisto | The News-Press" . news-press.com. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 .^ Derby, Kevin (February 27, 2014)."Republicans try to woo conservatives in CD 19" . Sunshine State News. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 . ^ Derby, Kevin (February 11, 2014)."Garrett Richter backs Lizbeth Benacquisto's bid for Congress" . Sunshine State News. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 . ^ Derby, Kevin (March 25, 2014)."Citing pro-life positions, Francis Rooney backs Lizbeth Benacquisto in CD 19" . Sunshine State News. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 . ^ Jay Newton-Small (April 23, 2014)."Lizbeth Benacquisto is Latest Republican Woman to Fall Short" .TIME . RetrievedMay 5, 2014 . ^ Derby, Kevin (February 26, 2014)."Conservative PAC Maggie's List backs Lizbeth Benacquisto in CD 19" . Sunshine State News. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 . ^ Wysocki, Heather (February 20, 2014)."Pair of congressional hopefuls nab endorsements" . News Press. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 . ^ "Connie Mack Endorses in Special Election for Radel's Seat | At the Races" . Atr.rollcall.com. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 .^ "Rand Paul Endorses in Race to Replace Trey Radel | At the Races" . Atr.rollcall.com. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 .^ "Michelle Bachmann endorses Curt Clawson in CD 19 primary" . SaintPetersBlog. April 18, 2014. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 .^ "Endorses Curt Clawson for Florida's 19th Congressional District Special Election" . Tea Party Express. RetrievedMay 5, 2014 .^ Public Policy Polling ^ St. Pete Polls ^ St. Pete Polls ^ "Florida - County Vote Results" . Associated Press. Archived fromthe original on May 5, 2014. RetrievedApril 22, 2014 .^ "Town hall guests: Democrats vying for two congressional districts in Lehigh guests at Jan. 21 meeting" . Leigh Acres Citizen. January 15, 2014. RetrievedApril 9, 2014 .^ "District 19 congressional Republican primary roundup" .The News-Press . April 21, 2014. RetrievedApril 22, 2014 .^ "Replay: Republican congressional debate for 19th District seat" .The News-Press . February 25, 2014. RetrievedApril 22, 2014 .^ "Florida Department of State - Election Results: June 24, 2014 Special General Congressional 19" . Florida Department of State Department of Elections. RetrievedJune 18, 2016 .
U.S. U.S. (Election ) Governors Attorneys State Mayors Anaheim, CA Austin, TX Chula Vista, CA Corpus Christi, TX Irvine, CA Jackson, MS Lexington, KY Long Beach, CA Louisville, KY Lubbock, TX New Orleans, LA Newark, NJ Norfolk, VA North Miami, FL (special) Oakland, CA Oklahoma City, OK Providence, RI Reno, NV San Bernardino, CA San Diego, CA (special) San Jose, CA Santa Ana, CA Sioux Falls, SD Shreveport, LA Tallahassee, FL Washington, DC Local Cuyahoga County,OH Jackson County,MO Jefferson County,MO Macomb County,MO Orange County,FL St. Charles County,MO St. Louis County,MO Wayne County,MI States
