Former Republican congressman Weldon to run for Florida House seat
Former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon is looking to return to elective office, filing to run for Brevard County's District 32 seat in the Florida House of Representatives in the 2024 election.
Weldon, a Republican from Indialantic, is pushing a conservative agenda in his opening salvo.
"Now, more than ever, we need proven conservatives in state government to safeguard Florida families from the radical left’s extreme agenda," Weldon said.
Weldon, a 68-year-old physician, seeks to succeed incumbent Republican District 32 Florida Rep. Thad Altman, who cannot run for reelection to the Florida House because of term limits. Weldon is the first announced candidate for that seat, which includes sections of central and southern Brevard.
Weldon served in Congress for seven two-year terms. He first won election in 1994 as part of the so-called "Republican Revolution." He won reelection in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006.
“State legislatures are the best protection against the dysfunction and big government overreach that has infected Washington, D.C., today,” Weldon said Monday in a statement announcing his candidacy for the Florida House seat. “I am running for the Florida House to protect our rights and liberties, and tackle the critical issues facing our families."
Weldon commended Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature "for their commitment to conservative leadership. In the Florida House, I will stand firm in defense of life, the Second Amendment, parental rights in education, the rule of law, low taxes and a strong economy. I will take a scalpel to waste and bloat in the state budget and always uphold our conservative values."
During his tenure in Congress, Weldon championed religious and anti-abortion causes, gun rights and strengthening American national security. He also worked to support and expand the U.S. space program.
Weldon helped secure funds to construct the East Central Florida VA Clinic and to acquire land to expand the Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge in Brevard County.
Seeking County Commission seat:Republicans Thad Altman and Dave Neuman file for 2024 Brevard County Commission race
Weldon aimed to stop Terri Schiavo's feeding tube from being removed. Schiavo was a Florida woman in a vegetative state whose case became a matter of public debate when her husband wanted to remove her breathing tube, while her parents wanted to keep her on life support, prompting a succession of legal challenges. At one point, Weldon offered to examine Schiavo himself to make a determination about the outcome.
While serving in Congress, Weldon also supported multiple bills to criminalize human cloning.
Weldon represented what was then Florida's 15th Congressional District, which included most of Brevard County, all of Indian River County, most of Osceola County and part of Polk County.
Early entries:Here's why Brevard candidates for 2024 election have already entered their races
During his time in Congress, Weldon sat on the Appropriations, Science, and Health and Human Services committees, among others.
Florida House District 32 includes Rockledge, Viera, Suntree, Melbourne, Indian Harbour Beach and Indialantic.
The district is about 44% Republican, 26% Democrat and 30% independent, based on voter registration figures.
Weldon is a board-certified internist affiliated with the Health First Medical Group. Weldon's Health First biography indicates that his interests include the management of hypertension, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, cancer screening, preventive care and general illnesses of the elderly.
Weldon first came to Brevard in 1987, after serving six years as a physician in the U.S. Army. Weldon obtained his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and his medical degree from SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine.
In 2021, Weldon joined the Florida Institute of Technology board of trustees. He also has taught physiology and pathophysiology in the Biomedical Engineering Department at Florida Tech.
Florida Tech spokesman Wes Sumner said Weldon also "was instrumental in Florida Tech’s efforts to attract the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine to campus."
Weldon currently serves as the chairman of the board for the Israel Allies Foundation, whose mission is to educate and empower pro-Israel legislators
Weldon ran for the U.S. Senate in 2012, but lost in a Republican primary to then-U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV. Mack then lost to then-incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson in the general election that year.
During his 2012 run for U.S. Senate, Weldon made a point of conspicuously eating at a Palm Bay Chick-fil-A during the most contentious moments of the debate over the fast food chain's support for anti-LGBTQ groups and conversion-therapy treatments.
"This is my way to support Chick-fil-A's unwavering support for the American family institution and for Pro-Life values," Weldon said in a statement at the time.
Altman, meanwhile, is one of three announced candidates for the District 5 County Commission seat in the 2024 election. That seat now held by Republican Kristine Zonka, who cannot seek reelection because of term limits.
The other District 5 candidates are Republican David Neuman and Democrat Vinnie Taranto Jr.
Contact Berman at [email protected], on Twitter at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54.
Tyler Vazquez is the Brevard County and North Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-917-7491 or [email protected]. Twitter: @tyler_vazquez
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Weldon, a doctor and former congressman, to run for Florida House seat