Florida Democratic congressional candidate dies at 54 [View all]

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - A Florida Democrat running for the U.S. House of Representatives in a heavily Republican district has died a little more than six weeks before the November elections, the state’s Democratic Party said on Monday.

April Freeman, 54, who worked as a writer and producer in the film industry, died of an apparent heart attack, local media quoted her husband as saying.

She had been due to face Republican state Senator Greg Steube in the Nov. 6 elections to succeed Tom Rooney, a Republican who decided not to seek a sixth term in Congress. State law allows party officials five days to convene a meeting to name a replacement candidate.

Political analysts view the central Florida district as solidly Republican, meaning it is unlikely to be a factor in Democrats’ attempt to win the 23 House seats they need to take a majority in that chamber and act as a check on Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda.

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POLITICS SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 / 4:41 PM / UPDATED 38 MINUTES AGO
Ginger Gibson
2 MIN READ


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-florida/florida-democratic-congressional-candidate-dies-at-54-idUSKCN1M42GY