Haridopolos picks up Trump endorsement in Republican primary for Congress in 8th District

Former Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos this week received a huge endorsement in his three-candidate Republican primary for Congress — from Donald Trump.

Haridopolos, a resident of Indian Harbour Beach, is running against Joe Babits of Vero Beach and John Hearton of Satellite Beach in the Aug. 20 GOP primary in House District 8. The district includes all of Brevard and Indian River counties and part of eastern Orange County.

The winner will face the winner of an Aug. 20 Democratic primary between Sandy Kennedy of Cocoa and Daniel McDow of West Melbourne, who is a member of the City Council there, in the Nov. 5 general election.

Congressional lineup set: Eight-termer Posey won't seek reelection to Congress. Haridopolos among five seeking seat

The current congressman from that district, Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, who is completing his eighth two year term in Congress, is not seeking reelection. Posey withdrew from the race just after the candidate qualifying deadline passed on April 26 and endorsed Haridopolos, who entered the race earlier that day.

In a post on the Truth Social social media platform, Trump — the former president and presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2024 ― said Haridopolos "will be a fantastic representative for Florida’s 8th Congressional District."

"Mike has a strong record of success and incredible support from his community," Trump wrote. "In Congress, he will fight inflation, grow our economy, secure our border, support our military/vets, champion American energy independence and defend our always under siege Second Amendment. He will not let you down."

In a post responding to Trump's endorsement, Haridopolos told Trump: "I support your America First plan to secure our border, grow our economy and back the blue. I will not let our country down."

In a separate statement, Haridopolos said he is “deeply grateful" for Trump's endorsement. He said Trump "made America safer, stronger and more prosperous when he was in the White House. We need his leadership to secure the border, restore our economy and keep our families safe. In Congress, I will stand in strong support of President Trump’s agenda to Make America Great Again."

Trump's endorsement follows a slew of other endorsements Haridopolos received in recent weeks for his congressional campaign. Among them are ones from House Republican leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson; Florida's two U.S. senators, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott; the five members of Brevard's delegation to the Florida House; and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

Haridopolos served in the Florida Senate from 2003 to 2012, after serving in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2003. He now owns and operates MJH Consulting, a business and political consulting and lobbying firm.

The district has a voter registration makeup of about 46% Republican and 26% Democrat, with the other 28% either members of other political parties or "no party affiliation" voters.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at [email protected], on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Trump endorses Haridopolos, who faces two others in congressional primary