After a surprising no-show from U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) at the CD 11 Republican congressional debate in The Villages, Florida, Rep. Webster's primary challenger, conservative investigative journalist Laura Loomer (R-FL), is capitalizing on the lawmaker's under-the-radar campaign, his absenteeism, and she is drastically increasing her visibility and momentum on the campaign trail.
Loomer first rose to notoriety while working for James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas, and then again when she first ran for Congress during the 2020 election cycle in President Trump’s home district.
Loomer's de-platforming as a candidate from many social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook has garnered her unprecedented national visibility and endorsements from key America First conservative figures, such as Roger Stone, General Michael Flynn, and U.S. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ).
Since announcing her bid to challenge Rep. Webster's incumbency, Loomer has managed to outraise Webster in campaign funds four straight reporting cycles, and her campaign is exciting Republican voters in District 11.
At the debate hosted by Villagers For Trump last week in The Villages, Loomer also accused Webster of not debating her due to his “declining health”.
However, the Villagers for Trump Congressional debate might have been the final nail in the coffin for Webster's re-election hopes.
While in Washington D.C. for votes, Webster was absent at the event hosted in the Villages that Laura Loomer attended.
Loomer not only bashed Webster for his failure to support Donald Trump during the second impeachment and his refusal to admit the 2020 election was stolen, but she also made a public display of his absence by draping a men’s suit jacket over an empty chair to drive home her point about Webster being what she calls an “absentee, empty suit congressman.”
Loomer was met with a standing ovation after calling out Webster's absence from the debate.
The event in the Villages is not the first time Loomer has called out Webster for skipping public appearances.
Last month, Loomer claimed Webster would not debate her over his, "Declining health." Loomer stated, "The reason is very obvious. The congressman is not cognitively capable to debate me because his health is declining and his staff are doing their best to keep the chronically absent congressman from engaging in any public debates."
This week, Loomer was also endorsed by the Florida Republican Assembly, and the Orlando Local News, making a Loomer victory seem more and more plausible.
President Donald Trump endorsed Loomer in 2020, and also voted for her, leaving many voters wondering whether the President will chime in on the CD 11 congressional race.
The Florida Republican Primary is scheduled to take place on August 23, 2022.
