In a move that signals a lack of forgiveness for past confrontations, Florida's Republican Representative Matt Gaetz is set to support a challenger to fellow Republican Representative Mike Bost of Illinois.
Gaetz is scheduled to appear at a rally on February 16, endorsing Darren Bailey, who is contesting against Bost in a Republican primary, as reported by Politico.
The animosity between Gaetz and Bost can be traced back to a heated incident following the ousting of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a move orchestrated by Gaetz. During a private meeting, Bost reportedly threatened Gaetz as he rose to speak, with the words, "If you dont sit down, Ill put you down," according to Politico. Axios further reported that Bost was "almost lunging at him."
Gaetz, in a social media post, expressed his support for Bailey, stating, "@DarrenBaileyIL is a true fighter who will rock the establishment, not bow to them like @RepBost." Bailey reciprocated the sentiment, thanking Gaetz and criticizing his opponent Bost for being a career politician who has forgotten his constituents.
Bailey's campaign focuses on securing the border, completing Trump's wall, and prioritizing his district and America. He has also received the endorsement of Republican Representative Mary Miller of Illinois, a member of the Freedom Caucus, as reported by Business Insider.
Gaetz, confident in his track record of successful campaigns, stated, "I helped defeat Liz Cheney when she faced a strong challenger in her race, and Im confident we can do the same when we hit the trail in Southern Illinois." He further described Bailey as "an upgrade over the lackluster Republican incumbent."
Bost, however, dismissed Gaetz's involvement in his district, stating, "I never considered Matt a threat. I considered him an ass, but never a threat."
Gaetz's previous campaign involvements include working against Liz Cheney, who lost in the 2022 election, and former Republican Representative Ross Spano, who lost his 2020 GOP primary. This information was originally published on The Western Journal.
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