Retired Green Beret Lt. Col. Michael Waltz announced Tuesday his candidacy for the House seat currently held by Florida GOP Rep. Ron DeSantis, who is running for governor.
"I think that as a combat veteran, as a Green Beret, and somebody who has teed up decisions to a president when I served for Vice-President [Dick] Cheney, I feel called and compelled to bring all of those experiences to the table and serve the people of Florida and serve the people of this great country," Waltz, a Fox News contributor, told "Fox & Friends," while announcing his bid for the Sixth District seat.
Waltz is the CEO of Metis Solutions and co-founder of Askari Associates, and served as senior adviser and policy director for South Asia and counterterrorism in President George W. Bush's administration, according to his website.
He also has served as a Special Forces officer in various capacities on active and reserve duty the U.S. Army with multiple tours in Afghanistan and other locals across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Waltz said Tuesday that he brings his military experience, including leading the search for Bowe Bergdahl, and his business expertise to the table.
"We started with two people now just hired my 400th employee," said Waltz, who noted he has lived with the effects of Obamacare and overregulation in the business place.
Should Waltz win his primary, he could potentially face a challenge from former U.N. Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, who is seeking the Democratic nomination. He told the program he is looking forward to the day when he could debate her.
"We look at what happened in our foreign policy under the Clinton years, that ended up leading to 9/11 and of the mess we are dealing with today," said Waltz.
"That's part of the race I welcome . . . I want to say that you know, I think the more veterans, the more combat veterans we get in Congress, the better."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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