Florida Republican Rep. Allen West said Tuesday that he will switch congressional districts to boost his re-election chances,
The New York Times is reporting. Rep. Tom Rooney, whose district West is seeking to win, also plans to change districts.
West now represents the heavily Democratic 22nd District, which is expected to become more Democratic under proposed redistricting maps, the Times reported. He will move into the newly configured 18th District, which is a bit more Republican than Democratic.
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The 18th District now is represented by Rooney, a Republican who said he will run for re-election in the new 17th District on Florida's west coast, which will have many of his current constituents but has more Republican voters than his previous district, the Times reported.
In a statement, West said: “After much prayer, reflection, and discussion with my close friends and family, I am announcing today my decision to seek re-election in Florida’s proposed 18th Congressional District. I have always believed the state of Florida would be best served by having both Congressman Tom Rooney and myself in the House of Representatives working to solve our nation’s most pressing problems."
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