State Senator Debbie Mayfield Kicks Off State House Campaign With Trump Endorsement

BREVARD, FL—State Senator Debbie Mayfield kicked off her state House of Representative campaign Wednesday with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump in what will be a hotly contested race in Florida House District 32.

Encompassed by most of Brevard County, HD 32 stretches south from Melbourne north toward Rockledge. Its former Representative, Republican Thad Altman, was termed out this year. Mayfield, who termed out of the Senate this year, is now seeking his seat.

The race won't be an easy one as Mayfield must face former Congressman Dave Weldon for the seat. Weldon served seven two-year terms in Congress from 1994 to 2008.

However, with a Trump endorsement, Mayfield's chances appear to be improving drastically.

"Debbie Mayfield is a conservative warrior for Florida House, District 32," Trump, the Republican nominee for president, wrote on his conservative social media platform Truth Social. "She is fighting hard to secure our border, grow the economy, support our military/vets, protect parental rights, and defend our always-under-siege Second Amendment."

"Debbie never wavers in her commitment to keep Floridians free and Make America Great Again. Debbie has my complete and total endorsement," he added.

Mayfield, for her part, said she was "honored" to be endorsed by the former President, stating in a press release that she is "proud of the work" she and the Legislature had done to "protect parental rights, to preserve our precious natural resources, and to stand up for the rights that have continued to make the Free State of Florida the envy of the nation."

Running for HD 32, however, was not Mayfield's first campaign choice after she was termed out of the Senate. Initially, she wanted to run for the District 8 congressional seat held by Republican Bill Posey if he chose to not seek another term.

Posey told her that he intended to seek reelection, so Mayfield did not file to run for the seat. On Friday, however, he suddenly announced that he would not run for reelection, and immediately endorsed former Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos for the seat instead.

Posey cited "circumstances beyond my control" for his sudden change of heart. Mayfield, meanwhile, said she had chosen to take him at his word that he was not retiring. A choice that caused her to miss out on the congressional seat, but, she says, still allowed her to file for HD 32 instead "weeks ago".