Fighter pilot, decorated combat veteran Jeff Witt announces bid to fill Florida House seat vacated by Gaetz

FIRST ON FOX: Fighter aviator and decorated combat seasoned Jeff Witt announced Monday helium is entering the contention to capable erstwhile Rep. Matt Gaetz's seat representing Florida's 1st legislature territory arsenic a Republican who vows to "fight to get ostentation nether control, unafraid our borders, and fortify our military," portion moving with chap GOP lawmakers to walk President Trump's "America First" agenda, Fox News Digital has learned.

Witt, 38, is simply a two-time postgraduate of Harvard University, a businessman, decorated Afghanistan War veteran, F-35 combatant aviator and teacher with much than a twelve years of subject service. Witt flew 82 combat missions successful Operation Enduring Freedom. 

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Witt is presently serving arsenic a argumentation advisor connected the Trump-Vance Presidential Transition Team. 

"I person served my state successful azygous for 14 years, and my dedication to work extends to the assemblage successful which my household and I live," Witt told Fox News Digital. "I americium excited to conscionable voters from each crossed the territory successful this campaign, and beryllium to them that they tin spot maine to beryllium a person successful Congress who represents them with conviction, hard work, and integrity." 

Witt told Fox News Digital that helium volition "fight to get ostentation nether control, unafraid our borders, and fortify our military." 

Jeff and his woman Courtney are the arrogant parents of 4 young children – Joan (6), Kirby (5), Grace (3), and Charlie (8 mos).

"I volition perceive to the needs of my constituents, and I volition enactment connected their behalf to marque Florida’s 1st District the finest spot successful America for veterans, businesses, and families," helium said. 

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Witt and his woman Courtney are parents of 4 young children, Joan, 6; Kirby, 5; Grace, 3; and Charlie, 8 months old. The Witt household resides successful Niceville, Fla., wherever helium is an progressive subordinate of his religion and teaches his children’s Sunday school. 

Witt attended Harvard University for his undergraduate studies and was a Harvard shot quarterback. He besides received his Master of Business Administration from Harvard University. 

Jeff has 14 years of subject work and is simply a decorated Afghanistan War Veteran. He flew 82 combat missions successful Operation Enduring Freedom. (Jeff Witt)

A 2024 Club for Growth fellow, Witt has already been endorsed by apical erstwhile Trump medication officials, including erstwhile Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie. 

"Jeff Witt is simply a patriot and a staunch protagonist of President Trump and his America First agenda," Wilkie told Fox News Digital. "As the erstwhile Secretary of Veterans Affairs nether President Trump, I cognize that Jeff’s ngo volition ever beryllium to enactment warriors first. I americium honored to springiness Jeff my afloat endorsement." 

Wilkie told Fox News Digital that Witt "stands for the close things—family and freedom."  

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"There volition beryllium nary 1 amended than Jeff Witt to correspond Florida’s 1st Congressional District," erstwhile manager of the Air National Guard Lt. Gen. (ret.) Stanley Clarke told Fox News Digital. 

Witt served nether Clarke, who praised him arsenic "an astonishing father, husband, and serviceman who has dedicated his beingness to serving this large country." 

"A existent American patriot who volition service Americans with grant and distinction," Clarke said of Witt. 

Witt’s run comes aft Trump tapped Gaetz arsenic his lawyer wide to pb the Justice Department successful his 2nd term.

Gaetz had represented Florida’s 1st congressional territory from January 2017 until earlier this month, erstwhile helium resigned from his station upon receiving the information for lawyer general.

Born successful Orlando, Witt present resides with his household successful Niceville. Witt is simply a Christian and an progressive subordinate of his church, wherever helium teaches children’s Sunday school.

Gaetz withdrew his sanction from information for lawyer wide connected Thursday, saying his confirmation process was "unfairly becoming a distraction to the captious enactment of the Trump-Vance transition." 

Gaetz resigned from his spot representing Florida’s 1st Congressional District earlier this period erstwhile President Trump nominated him to service arsenic lawyer general. Gaetz has since withdrawn his sanction from information to pb the Justice Department, but said Friday helium would not effort to instrumentality to Congress. 

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Witt joins a increasing Republican superior tract of candidates vying for the seat, including Florida State Sen. Michelle Salzman, Dr. Joel Rudman; Keith Gross and John Frankman; Bernadette Pittman; and erstwhile national authorities authoritative and teacher Kevin Gaffney. 

The day for the peculiar predetermination has yet to beryllium set. 

Witt is the member of Patrick Witt, a subordinate of the Trump Transition squad who ran for statewide bureau successful Georgia successful 2022 with the endorsement of President Trump. Patrick Witt besides served successful the archetypal Trump medication arsenic lawman main of unit successful the Office of Personnel Management.