LeMieux to challenge Nelson in Florida

Former Sen. George LeMieux (R-Fla.) announced Tuesday that he is jumping into the race against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson (Fla.).

“I’m in because the country and our government is [at] risk of failure,” LeMieux told The St. Petersburg Times.

LeMieux becomes the second Republican to officially enter the primary field — Florida state Senate President Mike Haridopolos has also declared his candidacy. Former state Rep. Adam Hasner is expected to run. 

LeMieux could give Nelson, whom national Republicans have targeted for defeat, a tough challenge.

The former senator served in the upper chamber for 16 months, after then-Gov. Charlie Crist appointed him to fill the term of former Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), who resigned in August of 2009. LeMieux left the Senate in January 2011 after Republican Marco Rubio won an election for the open seat. 

Democrats refrained from attacking LeMieux directly, but said that the Republican nominee in Florida is likely to emerge weakened from a primary.

“This primary has ‘train wreck’ written all over it and the eventual
nominee will likely enter the general election wounded, bloodied, and
out of funds,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Matt Canter. “While Republicans cater to the extreme right of their
party, Senator Bill Nelson will continue to reach across the aisle and
work with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to cut wasteful
spending and create jobs for everyday Floridians.”

LeMieux’s opponents could play up his ties to Crist, who left the Republican Party to run for Senate as an Independent in 2010. LeMieux was a longtime adviser to the former governor, but distanced himself after Crist left the party. 

“Look, I’m my own man, and I have a record,” he told the Times.

—This post was updated at 12:07 p.m.