Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has drawn a last-minute primary challenger as tensions remain high between him and former House speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)
Aaron Dimmock filed to challenge Gaetz on Friday — the last day to do so in Florida — according to records from the Florida Department of State. No other fellow Republicans filed against Gaetz in his deep-red Panhandle district.
Dimmock is a retired Navy officer who serves as director for leadership programs at the University of West Florida’s Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Center for Leadership, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
Gaetz has long feuded with McCarthy and led the successful effort to oust him from the speakership last year. Allies of McCarthy have been working to recruit challengers to Gaetz and the seven other Republicans who joined Democrats to boot McCarthy from his post.
Dimmock did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his candidacy.
In a fundraising email, Gaetz bashed Dimmock as McCarthy’s “handpicked RINO candidate.” While the Florida primary is not until Aug. 20, Gaetz has already aired TV ads touting his warm relationship with former president Donald Trump.
Aaron Dimmock filed to challenge Gaetz on Friday — the last day to do so in Florida — according to records from the Florida Department of State. No other fellow Republicans filed against Gaetz in his deep-red Panhandle district.
Dimmock is a retired Navy officer who serves as director for leadership programs at the University of West Florida’s Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Center for Leadership, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
Gaetz has long feuded with McCarthy and led the successful effort to oust him from the speakership last year. Allies of McCarthy have been working to recruit challengers to Gaetz and the seven other Republicans who joined Democrats to boot McCarthy from his post.
Dimmock did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his candidacy.
In a fundraising email, Gaetz bashed Dimmock as McCarthy’s “handpicked RINO candidate.” While the Florida primary is not until Aug. 20, Gaetz has already aired TV ads touting his warm relationship with former president Donald Trump.
