In a surprising turn of events, Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini has withdrawn from the Republican primary race for Florida’s 11th Congressional District. The decision, announced on social media just hours before the candidate qualifying deadline, has significant implications for the upcoming election.
The 11th District, encompassing all of Sumter County and parts of Lake and Orange countiesis poised to remain a Republican stronghold. With U.S. Representative Daniel Webster retiring, the seat is wide open ahead of the August 18 primary.
Sabatini’s Decision and Legal Challenge
Sabatini’s withdrawal stems from Florida’s resign-to-run law, which mandates that candidates for higher office must resign from their current positions immediately upon qualifying. Sabatini argued that stepping down now would be irresponsible, potentially allowing a corrupt political insider to take his seat and push for overdevelopment while neglecting conservative priorities.
In an attempt to circumvent this law, Sabatini filed a lawsuit to challenge its constitutionality. However, the legal process did not yield a timely resolution before the qualifying deadline. We filed a lawsuit to strike down the unconstitutional ‘resign to run’ law but unfortunately it was too late for a challenge to be fully heard & decided on the merits before the qualifying dateSabatini wrote on social media.
The Race for Florida’s 11th Congressional District
With Sabatini’s withdrawal, the race narrows down to two prominent Lake County figures: businessman Joe Strada and former Property Appraiser Carey Baker. Sabatini has endorsed Baker, citing the need for strong representation from Lake County in Congress.
Strada, the founder of Strada Services and a resident of Lake Maryhas positioned himself as a staunch ally of President Donald Trump. He has pledged to invest $5 million of his own money into his campaign, signaling a robust financial backing for his bid.
This marks the second time in recent election cycles that Sabatini has stepped back from a congressional bid. His decision to withdraw highlights the complexities and challenges posed by Florida’s resign-to-run law, which continues to be a contentious issue among politicians and legal experts alike.
