{"id":2327286,"date":"2024-08-20T05:30:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-20T09:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gaetz-mccarthy-rivalry-takes-center-stage-with-florida-house-primary-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-20T05:32:40","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T09:32:40","slug":"gaetz-mccarthy-rivalry-takes-center-stage-with-florida-house-primary-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gaetz-mccarthy-rivalry-takes-center-stage-with-florida-house-primary-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaetz-McCarthy rivalry takes center stage with Florida House primary &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgaetz-mccarthy-rivalry-takes-center-stage-with-florida-house-primary-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2327286&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the ongoing rivalry\u200d between Representative \u200bMatt Gaetz (R-FL) and former House\u2062 Speaker Kevin McCarthy \u2063as Gaetz \u2064faces a primary \u200bchallenge backed by McCarthy. Gaetz\u200c is running against Aaron Dimmock,\u2063 a retired Navy pilot who has\u2062 received \u2064substantial financial support from McCarthy&#8217;s allies, including a $3 million advertising campaign from the Freedom Patriots PAC \u200daimed at attacking Gaetz. The conflict\u2062 runs deep, as Gaetz&#8217;s actions contributed to McCarthy&#8217;s ousting from his leadership position\u200d last\u200d fall.<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz,\u2064 who is facing\u2063 a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations\u2064 of sexual misconduct, claims he will be significantly outspent in the primary and \u2062blames \u200cMcCarthy for the negative attention he is receiving. Despite\u200b this, recent polling indicates that Gaetz maintains strong support among voters in his district, \u2063with 67%\u2064 favoring him compared to 20% for Dimmock.<\/p>\n<p>Looking towards the future, McCarthy&#8217;s allies are speculating about the\u200d implications of a\u2062 potential Dimmock defeat, particularly regarding Gaetz&#8217;s \u200dambitions for a gubernatorial run in \u200b2026.\u200b However, Gaetz has publicly\u200b stated that he has no plans to \u2064run for governor \u2062and \u2063aims to continue supporting President\u200b Trump in Washington.<\/p>\n<p>The primary reflects broader tensions within the GOP, stemming \u200cfrom divisions between hard-line and establishment factions, underscoring the ongoing impact of \u200bMcCarthy&#8217;s removal\u2064 as Speaker on Republican dynamics. \u2062Gaetz&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/caitlin-clark-shines-in-career-high-game-helps-carry-team-to-3rd-straight-win-in-gritty-fashion\/\" title=\"Caitlin Clark Stars with Career-Best Performance, Leads Team to Third Consecutive Victory\">strong local support<\/a> is seen as a significant barrier for Dimmock, who has only recently entered the race and \u2064is unfamiliar to many constituents.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Gaetz-McCarthy rivalry takes center stage with Florida House primary<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1732421\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nigeria-jails-epoch-times-reporter-covering-jihadist-massacres\/\" title=\"Nigeria Jails Epoch Times Reporter Covering Jihadist Massacres\">long-standing rivalry<\/a> between Rep. <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/matt-gaetz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Matt Gaetz<\/a> (R-FL) and former House Speaker <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kevin-mccarthy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Kevin McCarthy<\/a> will come to a head on Tuesday as Gaetz faces a McCarthy-backed primary challenger.<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3124870\/what-to-watch-florida-wyoming-alaska-primaries-august-20\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>will face<\/a> Republican Aaron Dimmock, a retired Navy pilot who is backed by McCarthy. The race is personal for the former speaker: McCarthy was ousted after Gaetz and seven other <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>House Republicans<\/a> joined all Democrats in voting to remove him from the top leadership position last fall.<\/p>\n<p>The Freedom Patriots PAC, which is connected to McCarthy allies, has spent $3 million supporting Dimmock and attacking Gaetz over a since-closed Justice Department investigation into his alleged involvement in the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz, who has repeatedly denied the claims, still faces a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged sexual misconduct and illegal drug use.<\/p>\n<p>He blames McCarthy personally for the House investigation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Usually, I&rsquo;ve had a resource advantage when I&rsquo;ve run,&rdquo; Gaetz&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/08\/15\/nx-s1-5073003\/matt-gaetz-florida-primary-kevin-mccarthy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">told<\/a>&nbsp;NPR on Friday. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to be outspent 3 or 4 to 1 in this contest because Kevin McCarthy has mobilized the millions of dollars he had in his political committees to run advertisements against me.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">McCarthy allies eye 2026 with Dimmock defeat likely<\/h2>\n<p>Dimmock faces an uphill battle to defeat the hard-line incumbent. Gaetz has won recent House races with well over the 50% majority needed and is on track to do so again. A July <a href=\"https:\/\/projects.fivethirtyeight.com\/polls\/house\/2024\/florida\/1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>poll<\/a> from Fabrizio, Lee &amp; Associates found Gaetz with 67% support compared to Dimmock&rsquo;s 20%.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In northwest Florida, Gaetz&rsquo;s name is even bigger than it would be, say, in Washington, in the sense that his father was a Senate president,&rdquo; GOP strategist Ford O&rsquo;Connor told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;When it comes to northwest Florida, Matt Gaetz is a household name.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Now, McCarthy allies are setting their sights on a longer-term goal as they prepare for the possibility that Dimmock will lose Tuesday&rsquo;s primary. They are hoping the negative ad campaign against Gaetz will affect his chances of becoming governor of Florida in 2026, according to ABC News.<\/p>\n<p>Eyes are already on Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to lead the Republican gubernatorial primary field, with some anticipating Gaetz could enter the mix. However, Gaetz has pushed back on claims that he is running for statewide office in that cycle.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I have no plans to run for Governor,&rdquo; Gaetz said in a post to X on Monday. &ldquo;I like my job and I want to help President Trump in Washington. If those plans change, I hope I have opposition as incompetent as these dorks,&rdquo; referring to the Freedom Patriots PAC.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I have no plans to run for Governor. I like my job and I want to help President Trump in Washington. <\/p>\n<p>If those plans change, I hope I have opposition as incompetent as these dorks. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1tW2iEwuoh\">https:\/\/t.co\/1tW2iEwuoh<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mattgaetz\/status\/1825515198536384727?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 19, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>A Florida Republican strategist told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that this primary is McCarthy allies trying to &ldquo;message test ways to harm Matt Gaetz for when he tries to move to a bigger stage.&rdquo; But, the strategist noted, it&rsquo;s not sticking in Gaetz&rsquo;s 1st Congressional District.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I just don&rsquo;t see him being harmed in North Florida. That area, it&rsquo;s Gaetz country,&rdquo; the strategist said. &ldquo;I think what they&rsquo;re finding is that nothing is really working with those voters. Now, could that change across Florida as a whole? Yes, because obviously Florida is very different, particularly South Florida.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>While allies of the former speaker have pledged millions to support Dimmock, McCarthy&rsquo;s leadership PAC has not directly contributed to Dimmock&rsquo;s campaign, as it did to the challengers of other Republicans who voted to oust him.<\/p>\n<p>The Florida strategist said McCarthy is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/idaho-senate-passes-bill-could-be-1st-state-banning-critical-race-theory-in-schools\/\" title=\"Idaho Senate Passes Bill, Could Be 1st State Banning Critical Race Theory In Schools\">holding back funds<\/a> for Dimmock likely to avoid giving Gaetz &ldquo;all the billboard material&rdquo; he needs.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Remember, Speaker McCarthy is not very popular with Republican primary voters,&rdquo; the strategist added.<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz made the opposite case, <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/mccarthy-aligned-group-hopes-hurt-gaetzs-future-gubernatorial\/story?id=112931395\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>telling ABC News<\/a> that he will win the primary because the &ldquo;folks in Washington and California and Missouri don&rsquo;t quite understand the connection I have with the people of northwest Florida.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dimmock&rsquo;s campaign said in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that the retired Navy officer knew his race would be a difficult one given the short time he had to campaign.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Aaron entered this race less than four months ago to provide Northwest Florida with an alternative to the chaos and embarrassments of Matt Gaetz&rsquo;s tenure in Congress,&rdquo; Dimmock&rsquo;s campaign said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s no secret that building a campaign from scratch against a career politician isn&rsquo;t easy, but that goal has never changed. Since we began this campaign, we&rsquo;ve met with and heard from thousands of Congressman Gaetz&rsquo;s constituents who are ready for new leadership, and we look forward to them making their voices heard at the polls.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A mixed record for McCarthy revenge tour<\/h2>\n<p>The removal of McCarthy, who resigned from Congress in December, highlighted a stark division in the GOP conference between hard-line Republicans and establishment lawmakers, with several House races this cycle reflecting the consequences of that fracture.<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz&rsquo;s race is just one in McCarthy&rsquo;s so-called revenge tour, in which he has been going after the eight House GOP members who voted to remove him as speaker. He has seen one big win in Virginia, where House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-VA)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3106590\/bob-good-loses-recount-becomes-first-ousted-house-gop-incumbent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title> lost his primary and then a recount<\/a> to Republican John McGuire, a former Navy SEAL.<\/p>\n<p>However, McCarthy and his allies failed to unseat most of the eight: Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Eli Crane (R-AZ) bested their primary challengers, former Colorado Rep. Ken Buck and Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) decided not to run for reelection, and Reps. Andy Biggs (R-TN) and Tim Burchett (R-TN) ran in uncontested primaries.<\/p>\n<p>There are some parallels between Gaetz&rsquo;s and Good&rsquo;s races when it comes to fellow House colleagues donating to their opponents. The campaign of Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/house\/4832143-mccarthy-gaetz-florida-primary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>donated to Dimmock<\/a>, according to the <em>Hill<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In Good&rsquo;s contest, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) and Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), a House Freedom Caucus member, were among the Republicans who supported McGuire. Van Orden, in particular, has not been shy in sharing his dislike of Good and Gaetz, arguing they are &ldquo;bullies&rdquo; and he looks forward to seeing them gone from Congress.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Dimmock&rsquo;s campaign for comment.<\/p>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1732421\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1732421\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The ongoing rivalry between Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is set to intensify on Tuesday as Gaetz competes against a primary challenger supported by McCarthy. Gaetz will be up against Republican Aaron Dimmock, a retired Navy pilot endorsed by McCarthy. This election holds personal significance for McCarthy, who was removed from his leadership role last fall after Gaetz and seven other Republicans voted with Democrats to oust him. The Freedom Patriots PAC, linked to McCarthy&#8217;s allies, has invested $3 million in supporting Dimmock while attacking Gaetz over a now-closed Justice Department investigation regarding his alleged involvement in the sex trafficking of a minor. Although Gaetz has consistently denied these allegations, he is still under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for purported sexual misconduct and drug use, which he attributes directly to McCarthy&#8217;s influence.<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz expressed concerns about being significantly outspent in this race\u2014three or four times more than his opponent\u2014due to the financial resources mobilized by McCarthy\u2019s political committees aimed at running ads against him. Despite facing challenges from Dimmock, recent polling indicates that Gaetz maintains strong support within his district; a July poll showed him with 67% approval compared to Dimmock\u2019s 20%. According to GOP strategist Ford O\u2019Connor, Gaetz is well-known in northwest Florida due to family connections that enhance his local reputation.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead beyond this primary contest, allies of McCarthy are preparing for potential future scenarios should Dimmock lose on Tuesday. They aim for their negative advertising campaign against Gaetz to impact his prospects if he decides to run for governor of Florida in 2026\u2014a race where figures like Rep. Byron Donalds and Attorney General Ashley Moody are already considered frontrunners.<\/p>\n<p>Despite speculation about running statewide office soon, Gaetz has firmly stated he does not intend to pursue the governorship at this time and prefers focusing on assisting President Trump in Washington instead.<\/p>\n<p>A Florida Republican strategist noted that this primary appears as an attempt by McCarthy&#8217;s supporters to undermine Gaetz ahead of any larger ambitions he may have but acknowledged that such efforts seem ineffective within North Florida where support remains strong for him.<\/p>\n<p>While significant funds have been pledged towards supporting Dimmock\u2019s campaign from various sources aligned with McCarthy, it seems there is hesitance regarding direct contributions from certain PACs likely aimed at avoiding giving too much leverage or &#8220;billboard material&#8221; back over to Gaetz.<\/p>\n<p>Dimmock\u2019s campaign recognized the challenge posed by competing against an established politician like Gaetz but emphasized their commitment toward providing voters with an alternative leadership option based on feedback received during their outreach efforts since launching just four months ago.<\/p>\n<p>The broader context reveals divisions within the GOP following McCarthy&#8217;s removal last December; several races reflect these tensions as part of what some refer colloquially as \u201cMcCarthy\u2019s revenge tour.\u201d While there have been some successes among challengers backed by him\u2014such as Bob Good losing his seat\u2014the overall effectiveness remains mixed across various districts where incumbents have managed successfully fend off opposition thus far<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2327287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mccarthy-gaetz-fight.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[38646,3624,3663,13741,32076],"class_list":["post-2327286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-florida-house-primary","tag-gaetz","tag-mccarthy","tag-rivalry","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mccarthy-gaetz-fight.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2327286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2327286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2327286\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2327287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2327286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2327286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2327286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}