Florida Gov. Rick Scott to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson in run for U.S. Senate

James Call | Tallahassee Democrat

Show Caption Hide Caption Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott: A look at the 2018 Senate race Three unexpected events — including the Parkland shootings — are shaping the Senate race in Florida, which could decide control of the Senate next year.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Gov. Rick Scott, in a button-down blue shirt and Navy ball cap, waded into a crowd of supporters Monday, with the Secretary of State of Puerto Rico by his side, and declared he wants to be Florida's next U.S. senator.

"There's a lot of old tired thinking up there," said Scott in his campaign's opening statement at an Orlando construction company. "We shouldn't be sending the same old tired people to Washington.

Scott came out swinging against the three-term incumbent, Sen. Bill Nelson, 75, and the conventional wisdom that this is not a Republican year. He said Washington is "horribly dysfunctional," and the change starts in Florida.

"We can change Washington. We must change Washington. We will change Washington. Let's get Washington to work," Scott said with a shout-out to his slogan during two successful gubernatorial campaigns.

Scott's candidacy makes Florida a toss-up state in the battle to control Congress, according to national pundits.

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The Republican is a multi-millionaire businessman who never ran for office before his successful governor's race in 2010. He campaigned as part of the tea party movement and called for massive budget and tax cuts, but was forced to scale back his plans amid opposition from the GOP-controlled state Legislature. He also changed his hard-line positions on immigration.

Nelson, a Democrat, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000 after having served in the state Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Watch it: Gov. Rick Scott announces Senate run Florida Gov. Rick Scott has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, challenging current Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in November.

"I've always run every race like there's no tomorrow — regardless of my opponent," said Nelson. "While it's clear that Rick Scott will say or do anything to get elected, I've always believed that if you just do the right thing, the politics will take care of itself."

University of Central Florida political scientist Aubrey Jewett said Scott rode a tea party wave into office and will now try to surf a potential Democratic wave to the nation’s capital.

“There’s a confluence of issues that may work against Republicans this year,” said Jewett. “There could be a counter wave of Trump supporters, it is not as likely but then again, they weren’t expected to show up in 2016.”

Scott is leaving office because of term limits and has been urged to challenge Nelson by President Trump.

Reaction to Scott's candidacy played out across party lines.

"We are encouraged that pro-life Governor Rick Scott has entered the Senate race in Florida," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, a group that seeks to reduce and end abortion. "Senator Bill Nelson has a record of abortion extremism. Earlier this year, he was a no-show for the crucial vote on popular legislation to limit late-term abortion after five months of pregnancy. He previously voted against the bill in 2015."

Chris King, a Democratic candidate for governor of Florida, said, "Rick Scott launching his campaign from Orlando takes some gall –– 612 days passed between the shootings at Pulse and Parkland and Governor Scott did nothing to keep Floridians safe."

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