TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Leslie Dougher, who was unseated in January as chairwoman of the Republican Party of Florida despite support from Gov. Rick Scott, is looking to join her replacement in the state House.
Dougher, who has served as the Clay County Republican chair since 2008, announced Tuesday night via Twitter and at the Clay County Republican Flag Dinner that she would run for House District 19, which includes Bradford, Putnam, Union and part of Clay counties.
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The seat is currently held by Rep. Charles Van Zant, a Keystone Heights Republican who can't run in 2016 because of state term limits.
Dougher joins a contest that already includes Van Zant's wife, Katherine, and Palatka Republican Robert Bruce Payne.
In January, state party members ousted Scott-backed Dougher in favor of state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia of Spring Hill, despite GOP successes in the 2014 elections.
Republicans in November regained a super-majority in the House and held onto the governor's office as well as all three state Cabinet positions with Dougher at the helm.