As of Tuesday, July 5, 2022, Bryan Jones has officially withdrawn his candidacy from the race for US House of Representatives representing Florida’s 1st Congressional District.
- This comes after Marine Corps Veteran Mark Lombardo joined the race and pledged to put $1 million dollars of his own money into his campaign.
A press release on Tuesday morning from Jones’ campaign said that “this scenario of fellow veterans on the same ballot, splitting votes, goes against the ultimate goal of ensuring Northwest Florida has a representative that will always put our area’s interests above themselves.”
- “This area has the highest density of veterans and military families of any congressional district in the nation, yet it has not had a veteran representative in Congress for 27 years,” he continued. “The panhandle deserves a fighter, but a real fighter who will fight for their constituents, and not just themselves. Someone who will deliver results and not just rhetoric. A serious legislator and not just an entertainer.”
Jones says that he got into this race because he was “once again” answering a calling to serving this nation.
“I no longer felt our representatives reflected the values of my family, my neighbors, or me, and I felt compelled to mount a campaign to be a representative that would serve this nation honorably,” he said. “The Republican Primary on August 23rd is a winner-take-all system and a crowded ballot is not in the best interest of the voters of this district.”
Jones told Get The Coast that while this has been one of his family’s most difficult decisions to make, his withdrawal of candidacy for this race is out of a higher calling to remain truthful to his faith, the core values that guide him and his life’s mission of putting the good of others above my own.
“Service before self is not just a motto for me, it is my life’s mission,” he continued. “My family and I are forever grateful to our supporters and for those who entrusted us along the way. We will never forget the outpouring of time, friendship, and financial backing of our campaign that the great people of this area have shown my family and me as we stepped into public life to be a representative who will always keep Florida first.”
As for Lombardo, Jones says that he looks forward to learning more about his vision and goals for District 1.
- “I encourage all voters to do their research and choose the candidate that is reflective of their own personal values and who they believe willbest represent the proud heritage of service in this incredible area,” he added.