One of most watched Republican congressional primary race in the country is the contest to unseat Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D) in Florida's 23rd District. Boca Raton Mayor Scott and former State Rep. George Moraitis are the lead candidates in the race, and both are hoping to position themselves as the most Republican, Conservative candidate to face the popular and centrist Rep. Moskowitz.
Moraitis has been in the race the longest and has raised $698,355.25 for his campaign. Mayor Singer, who just jumped into the race, has raised $1,346,863.
While both Singer and Moraitis will have their past voting records scrutinized, coming off as the most Republican could be the key to winning the nomination in this congressional district.
Both men are considered somewhat centrist Republicans, but will being a centrist Republican help them defeat Rep. Moskowitz?
In 2022, Singer was accused of endorsing Democratic state rep candidates Andy Thomson over Republican Peggy Gossett-Seidman in House District 91.
Then-Palm Beach County Republican Party Chairman Mike Barnett said that Singer's endorsement of Democrat Thomson was nothing more than "endorsing open borders" and "bloated government budgets," and tax hikes.
In response to The Floridian's request for comment on his past endorsement of a Democrat over a Republican in HD 91, Singer pushed back, stating that he "never endorsed Andy Thomson."
"I never endorsed Andy Thomson - not in 2022 or ever. I said that he knew our community and had served Boca Raton well. Months later, he used my comments in a release," stated Singer. "It was not an endorsement. That word was not used. Even he didn’t call my comments an endorsement."
Singer is a popular and polished, seasoned politician. Both Republicans and Democrats like him.,
Back in 2018, progressive Reps. Ted Deutch and Lois Frankel, both praised Singer's leadership skills and endorsed his mayoral candidacy.
We asked Singer about Democrats supporting him in the past. Singer made it a point to state that he never endorsed either Rep. Frankel or Rep. Deutch, adding that he garnered their support because he ran against a compromised opponent.
"Yes, as the successful mayor of Boca Raton who had bipartisan support running against a candidate who had a record of ethics violations, I earned endorsements from both sides of the aisle," Singer stated. "One particular opponent had previously run for mayor of West Palm Beach against Lois Frankel. I imagine she endorsed me in part because of who that opponent was. I have never endorsed Deutch, Frankel, or Thomson for any office."
Wait, there is more. After becoming mayor of Boca Raton, the progressive Emgage PAC endorsed Singer's mayoralship. The Emgage PAC that year endorsed Andrew Gillum over then-Rep. Ron DeSantis and other progressives. Singer was the sole Republican endorsed by the committee.
Singer's campaign is dismissing the Emgage PAC endorsement, stating that they were not aware of the press release that went out showing support for Singer.
"This is the first we’ve heard that Emgage PAC endorsed Scott Singer's past mayoral candidacy. We had to dig it up online to see that they put his name on a press release - the day after he had won his race in 2018 - and without his knowledge. We didn’t know of this endorsement, don’t recall ever having any conversations with them, and Scott did not publicize them on any list of endorsements. We can show you Scott's 2018 materials listing his endorsements. This group was not among them," Singer campaign statement.
Singer past support for Boca Raton's embracing of the Biden-era Green New Deal initiative could be problematic for him in the primary election, but in politics, cash is king.
Singer's fundraising prowess could tip the scales in the race, but Moraitis will surely pounce on Singer's past friendly interactions and praises of his leadership from progressive Democrats.
The primary election is set for August 18.
