‘We look forward to working with him as a strong voice of medicine.’
The post All in the family: Florida’s doctors endorse Dan Weldon in HD 64 appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
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Dan Weldon is the Weldon who skipped medical school. Florida’s physicians endorsed him anyway.
The Florida Medical Association PAC, or FMA PAC, is backing the Republican in the Primary for House District 64, the Hillsborough County seat opening up as term limits catch Rep. Susan Valdés. It is the fourth endorsement this week from Florida’s self-styled No. 1 medical PAC.
“The FMA PAC endorses Dan Weldon for the Florida House. He brings a unique perspective into health care, having come from a family of physicians. We look forward to working with him as a strong voice of medicine,” said FMA PAC President Andrew Borom.
Weldon kept it in the family too.
“I am proud to be endorsed by the Florida Medical Association PAC. I have seen the incredible advocacy that FMA has done regarding doctors and ensuring patients have access to the highest quality of medical treatment,” Weldon said. “Having two siblings that are doctors, I know that FMA will continue to advocate for them throughout their careers.”
Weldon is a Tampa native who, by his campaign’s telling, walked on at the University of Florida and played linebacker for the Gators. Off the field, he founded a conservative student group and won the statewide chairmanship of the College Republicans of Florida. The White House recognized his campus free speech work in 2019.
He stayed in Gainesville for law school and graduated with honors from UF’s Levin College of Law. He broke in as a prosecutor and now works as a litigation lawyer.
He began this cycle aiming higher up the ballot. Weldon spent months running at U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor in CD 14 before trading that campaign for the HD 64 race in June. The move is paying off. He has jumped ahead in the Republican Primary money race. Amaro Lionheart and Angel Ramos are the other Republicans on the ballot.
The seat has its own story. Valdés won re-election as a Democrat in November 2024, then joined the Republican Party a month later, padding the House supermajority. Term limits close her run this year, and Democrats want the seat back.
Their front-runner is Mike Suarez. The former Tampa City Council member was first to file, and his backers include Hillsborough Democratic leaders, the Tampa police and fire unions and Associated Industries of Florida. He leads the overall money race as well.
John Rodriguez and Luis Salazar are challenging Suarez in the Democratic Primary.
The week’s FMA scorecard is even: two Democrats, John Taylor in HD 109 and Conrad Schupay in HD 63, and two Republicans, Jon Fay in HD 2 and Weldon. The Primary is Aug. 18. The General Election is Nov. 3.
The Weldon family produced two doctors and one linebacker. On Wednesday, the doctors’ PAC decided it wants the linebacker in Tallahassee.
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Ed. note: This story was drafted with assistance from AI. Editorial judgment, sourcing, and final review were performed by Peter Schorsch and the Florida Politics editorial team.
The post All in the family: Florida’s doctors endorse Dan Weldon in HD 64 appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
