With some help, I found the FEC Form 2 filings for several more candidates. They will still have to complete the qualifying process to be on the ballot.
Greg Merk (REP) Form 2.
Clayton Johnston (REP) Form 2
Charles Clayton Keebaugh (REP) Form 2
Ms Cindy Meadows (REP) Form 2
Christopher K Slater (REP) Form 2
Michael Thompson (REP) Form 2
Gene Valentino (REP) Form 2
Jeff Witt (REP) Form 2
Michelle Salzman (REP) Form 2
C Marcel Davis (DEM) Form 2
Gay Valimont (DEM) Form 2
Of the three candidates listed on the Florida Elections Commission website, only Uloma Ekpete Kama has a Form 2.
For Bernadette Pittman, we found her Form 1.
Joel Rudman – Form 2
And this Form 2 for Rudy Vazquez from Mauy
Greg Merk
Merk ran against Alex Andrade for the Florida House District 2 seat that Frank White vacated to run for Florida Attorney General. He lost.
Alex Andrade: 18,530
Greg Merk: 12,103
Merk ran against Congressman Gaetz in 2020, coming in third.
Matt Gaetz: 87,457
John Mills: 10,383
Greg Merk: 10,227
He tried again in 2022, coming in distant third with more than 4,000 fewer votes than he received two years earlier.
Matt Gaetz: 73,374
Mark Lombardo: 25,720
Greg Merk: 6,170
On Facebook:
Press release
Pensacola, FL: Greg Merk, a decorated combat aviator, financial manager, and lifelong conservative, officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 1st Congressional District. Merk, who deployed in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, brings his leadership skills and financial acumen to America’s most military District in a campaign focused on the economy, national security, and fighting the social insanity threatening our strength and civility.
With a Master of Science in Finance from Georgetown University and years of private sector experience, Merk deeply understands economics and financial markets. He rightly predicted that government stimulus and spending would lead to record inflation and knows significant budget cuts will be critical to avoid stagflation. Merk knows that a golden age of economic prosperity will only be achieved by eliminating agencies, reducing spending, cutting corporate and personal income taxes, and gutting the regulatory environment. He also believes in sound money, eliminating the Federal Reserve, and returning to the gold standard. “Washington failed the American people and destroyed the dollar’s value by engaging in fiscal and monetary irresponsibility. They have been kicking the can down the road for too long. With trillions in unfunded liabilities, the path is unsustainable and will severely undermine the way of life for future generations.”
Candidates who announced but I couldn’t find their FEC Form 2
John Frankman
Capt. John Frankman, a U.S. Special Forces Green Beret, announced his run for the seat on Twitter:
I’m a Special Forces Green Beret who was forced out of the military for refusing to take COVID shot.
Now, I’m running for Congress in Matt Gaetz’s seat to support President Trump and his agenda.
I fought for our freedoms in the Army, and I’m ready to do it again.
Join me.
Website: https://frankmanforflorida.com
Kevin Gross
Gross is Keith Gross, former assistant state attorney for Florida’s 18th circuit court and candidate for U.S. senate in 2024. He only received 9% of the vote against Sen. Rick Scott in the GOP primary.
Website: https://keithgross.com
From website: “Keith Gross is running for Congress to fight back against the Washington Uniparty. Far-left Democrats and spineless RINO Republicans have sold our country out to foreign nations and corrupt insiders. We won the battle to get Donald Trump back in the White House, and with America First fighters like Keith Gross backing him up in Congress, we’ll win the war to restore America!”
Kevin Gaffney
Kevin Gaffney is a teacher at Rocky Bayou Christian School in Niceville.
Website: https://www.votekevingaffney.com
From his website: Kevin has several years of federal government experience including working for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DOJ Criminal Unit, in Chicago, Illinois, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Division of Enforcement in Washington, D.C., and for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Counsel, in Illinois. He served in the areas of criminal investigation, FOIA, management analyst, and administrative law.
Kevin has been active and supportive of the Republican Party both in Illinois and Florida. He previously served in the GOP, worked on campaigns, and earlier ran for office. He describes himself as a Reagan Republican and fiscal and social conservative. He fully supports President Trump and his policies going forward.
