4 underdog Democrats call themselves 'band of brothers'

Florida congressional candidates Steve Specht, Dave Bruderly, Ken McGurn, and Walt Dartland. All are democrats and veterans, and hoping to appeal to Florida's conservative voters. (Photo by Kate Payne, WFSU News)

Four Democrats who are clearly outgunned and outmanned in races in conservative congressional districts across North Florida call themselves the "band of brothers."

Steven Specht in the western Panhandle's Congressional District 1; Walt Dartland in neighboring District 2; Ken McGurn in North Central Florida's District 3; and Dave Bruderly in Northeast Florida's District 4; held a news conference Thursday in Tallahassee.

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They all have military backgrounds and announced proposals to help veterans, a huge constituency across the top of the state. But they also made a pitch for their underdog candidacies.

“We are running a grassroots insurgency," said Bruderly, who is running against former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford in District 4. "I really believe that the voters should decide who wins the election. That is what we are trying to do is to get the word out that voters have a choice."

McGurn is the only one of the candidates running against an incumbent, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla.

But the others have received relatively little attention as they run against better-known, better-funded Republicans. Along with Bruderly running against Rutherford, Specht face state Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, and Dartland is running against Panama City physician Neal Dunn.

“We are sick and tired of being told that we are unpatriotic and that we don’t care about the military or veterans and don’t care about this country,” Specht said. "We may disagree with others on the visions for this country. But darn it, we have served this country and we are ready to fight for this country at home and in Washington."