Far-right activist to challenge Rep. Webster
TALLAHASSEE — Laura Loomer, a far-right Republican activist infamously banned from numerous social media and tech platforms, is running for Congress again, but this time for a Central Florida district held by GOP Rep. Dan Webster.
Loomer had previously planned to run in a South Florida district against Democrat Rep. Lois Frankel for the second time, but she filed paperwork to switch districts Wednesday. In 2020, Frankel defeated Loomer, 59% to 39.1%.
The move sets up a primary challenge for Webster, a longtime Florida Republican who has served in Congress since 2010.
“You have a problem with the radical left and the progressives who are pushing this very dangerous agenda … but then you also have do-nothing Republicans who are in safe red seats who have an ability to push back and fight back against what is happening and they’re not,” Loomer said in an interview Wednesday.
Loomer lives in Palm Beach County but said she plans to move to Lake County in the next few weeks.
Jaryn Emhof, Webster’s chief of staff and spokeswoman, said he is ready for the challenge.
“Mr. Webster never takes reelection for granted — he works hard every day to serve his constituents and campaigns hard every election year,” Emhof wrote in an emailed statement. “A man of integrity and solid voice and vote for conservative policies and values, his record of results and taking on the D.C. establishment and liberal left is clear.”
The matchup would pit Loomer, 28, an activist who has been kicked off of Twitter, Uber and other platforms for anti-Muslim views, against Webster, 71, an old school Florida Republican who served in the state House and Senate before running for Congress.
This is the second time in the election cycle that a Republican has filed to run against Webster. State Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills, initially filed to run against him but said he was counting on the redistricting process to include a new seat for him to run in and wasn’t actively challenging Webster.
Sabatini later changed plans and filed to run in District 7 against U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Winter Park.
Unlike Sabatini, Loomer intends to take on Webster and isn’t counting on the Legislature to create a new district in Lake County.
“I’m focused on running the best campaign I can against Dan Webster and providing the people of District 11 with the representation they deserve,” Loomer said.
She said she was recruited to run there by tea party and grass-roots activists unhappy with Webster’s absence during the second impeachment vote against then-President Donald Trump in January.
Webster has said he missed the vote because of a family medical emergency but slammed the impeachment process as “rushed.” Webster voted against the certification of the 2020 election for President Joe Biden.