Jeff Witt, a decorated combat veteran and fighter pilot, revealed on Monday that he is campaigning to fill the seat of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla. ) following the Florida Republican’s decision to leave Congress.
According to Fox News, Witt is a 38-year-old Afghanistan War senior, F-35 fighter aircraft and teacher, business, and graduate from Harvard University. According to the store, Witt served in the U.S. government for more than 12 years and participated in 82 combat operations as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Witt has also been serving the Trump-Vance Presidential Transition Team as a coverage assistant, according to Fox News.  ,
According to Witt,” I have devoted my life to the area in which my family and I live,” he told Fox News on Monday.” I have served my land in dress for 14 years. ” I am excited to meet voters from all across the district in this campaign, and prove to them that they can trust me to be a leader in Congress who represents them with conviction, hard work, and integrity” . ,
Witt explained that if he is elected to replace Gaetz, he will work to “get inflation under control, secure our borders, and strengthen our military” . ,
READ MORE: Matt Gaetz withdraws as Trump’s solicitor general find
Retired Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke, who previously served above Witt as the director of the Air National Guard, told Fox News,” There will be no one better than Jeff Witt to represent Florida’s 1st Congressional District”. Witt was described by Clarke as” a remarkable father, husband, and agent who has dedicated his life to serving this great state” and as” a true American soldier who will provide Americans with respect and distinction.”
Following Trump’s nomination for Gaetz to be attorney general, Witt’s campaign to replace Gaetz’s seat in the House of Representatives is underway. Due to his candidacy, Gaetz had served as the member of Florida’s 1st congressional district since 2017. Gaetz resigned from his position in the House shortly after receiving a nomination to become solicitor general.
Since his assurance “was badly distracting the crucial work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz announced last week that he would not be taking his name out of solicitor general consideration. Despite winning election in the 2024 election, Gaetz even announced that he would not run for office again.
According to Fox News, other Democratic prospects campaigning to remove Gaetz include Florida State Sen. Michelle Salzman, Keith Gross, John Frankman, Dr. Joel Rudman, Bernadette Pittman, and Kevin Gaffney.
