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Representative Ross Spano lost the GOP nomination to Scott Franklin, the City of Lakeland Commissioner, who attacked Spano during an investigation into allegations of potential campaign funding violations in the race for the 15th Central Florida Congressional District.
Last November, Spano said he planned to “cooperate fully with the Justice Department,” after the House Ethics Committee announced that at the department’s request, it would defer a review of the allegations. which Spano may have received irregular loans beyond the federal campaign. contribution limits.
Spano said at the time, “we acknowledged that mistakes had been made with the campaign loans, but those mistakes were completely unintentional and unintentional,” adding: “We are satisfied that upon examination the ministry Justice will see it that way as well. “
Franklin picked up on the issue, with a campaign ad superimposing the word “CRIMINAL” in all capital letters over an image of Spano. Another ad said in a voiceover, “Whether Spano is incompetent or corrupt, he shouldn’t be your congressman.”
Spano, meanwhile, campaigned as “Trump’s staunch ally” and his campaign accused Franklin of not being a true conservative. The political arm of the Club for Growth had been in the air to defend Spano and attack Franklin.
Spano had also been endorsed by the three main Republican House leaders: Minority House Leader Kevin McCarthy, Minority Whip Steve Scalise and GOP House Conference Chair Liz Cheney.
Franklin’s campaign, on the other hand, had been bolstered by the endorsement of one of Spano’s House Republican colleagues: GOP Representative Matt Gaetz, who represents the state’s first congressional district.
In a video ad, Gaetz said “Scott is the right person to make sure that President Trump leads the strongest campaign possible in the state of Florida.”
Spano had raised more than $ 1 million as of July 29, while Franklin had raised $ 237,000 and loaned his campaign $ 350,000 as of the same date, according to FEC data.
Inside Elections, a non-partisan political analysis published by CNN political analyst Nathan Gonzales, ranks the 15th District as a Republican in the November general election.
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