Two Trump Pardons and Busted Rep in Wild Republican Primary

Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty/Handout Florida voters are headed to the polls for the state’s primary, and none of the contests have a weirder set of candidates than the Republican race for Florida’s 19th congressional district.

Among the crowded field of candidates are two convicted felons, both pardoned by fellow convicted felon Donald Trump, as well as an ex-congressman who lobbed accusations of corruption and orgies consuming Washington, D.C. before being ousted.

The ten candidates are running to fill the open seat being vacated by GOP Rep.

Byron Donalds, who is seen as the frontrunner in the Republican primary for governor.

Among those vying for the House seat is John Strand, a self-declared former actor, model, and professional spokesperson, who stormed the U.S.

Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Strand was convicted on one felony obstruction charge and four misdemeanors, and he served about a year in federal prison before the Supreme Court narrowed the obstruction law, which led to his release.

He went on to receive a presidential pardon with roughly 1,500 insurrectionists from January 6.

Among his backers are election denier Mike Lindell, Rep.

Lauren Boebert and General Mike Flynn.

But Strand is not the only convicted felon running for the seat on Florida’s southwest coast, including Naples, Cape Coral and parts of Fort Myers.

Former New York Rep.

Chris Collins is also running in the race, having moved south permanently after serving time for insider trading and lying to the FBI.

Collins was first elected to represent New York’s 27th congressional district in 2012.