Jeff Witt, a decorated combat veteran and fighter pilot, revealed on Monday that he is campaigning to fill the seat of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) following the Florida Republican’s decision to leave Congress.
According to Fox News, Witt is a 38-year-old Afghanistan War veteran, F-35 fighter pilot and instructor, businessman, and graduate from Harvard University. The outlet noted that Witt completed over 12 years of service in the U.S. military and flew in 82 combat missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Fox News also reported that Witt has been working as a policy advisor for the Trump-Vance Presidential Transition Team.
“I have served my country in uniform for 14 years, and my dedication to service extends to the community in which my family and I live,” Witt told Fox News on Monday. “I am excited to meet voters from all across the district in this campaign, and prove to them that they can trust me to be a leader in Congress who represents them with conviction, hard work, and integrity.”
Witt explained that if he is elected to replace Gaetz, he will work to “get inflation under control, secure our borders, and strengthen our military.”
READ MORE: Matt Gaetz withdraws as Trump’s attorney general pick
Retired Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke, who previously served above Witt as the director of the Air National Guard, told Fox News, “There will be no one better than Jeff Witt to represent Florida’s 1st Congressional District.” Clarke described Witt as “an amazing father, husband, and officer who has dedicated his life to serving this great country” and “a true American patriot who will serve Americans with honor and distinction.”
Witt’s campaign to fill Gaetz’s seat in the House of Representatives comes after Trump nominated Gaetz to serve as attorney general. Prior to his nomination, Gaetz had served as the representative of Florida’s 1st congressional district since 2017. Shortly after being nominated to serve as attorney general, Gaetz resigned from his position in the House.
Last week, Gaetz announced that he was withdrawing his name from attorney general consideration since his confirmation “was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.” Gaetz also announced that he would not be returning to Congress despite winning reelection in the 2024 campaign.
According to Fox News, other Republican candidates campaigning to replace Gaetz include Florida State Sen. Michelle Salzman, Keith Gross, John Frankman, Dr. Joel Rudman, Bernadette Pittman, and Kevin Gaffney.
