The crowd of Republicans lining up to run for the seat held by retiring U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., appears to be growing even larger as former Gainesville City Commissioner Todd Chase is exploring entering the race.
Chase, a businessman who served in the Navy where he rose to the rank of commander, filed the paperwork on Friday to launch an exploratory committee as he considers entering the crowded Republican primary. A graduate of Jacksonville University with an MBA from Harvard, Chase flew P-3 Orions when he was based at NAS Jacksonville. Despite Gainesville traditionally being secure for Democrats, Chase served from 2011-2017 on its city commission.
With Yoho sticking to his promise to serve only four terms in Congress, a large field of Republicans is lining up to replace him.
Current active candidates include longtime Yoho aide Kat Cammack, former congressional aide Joe Millado, Clay County Commissioner Gavin Rollins, businessman Judson Sapp, physician James St. George and businesswoman Amy Pope Wells in the Republican primary. Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn officially kicked off his bid for the Republican nomination on Thursday.
Four Democrats–Adam Christensen, Phil Dodds, Richard Rowe and Tom Wells–are running in this solidly red district which stretches from Clay County to parts of Gainesville and Ocala.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
