Florida Republican Congressional candidate Mara Macie told Sirius XM’s Breitbart News Saturday that she would vote the complete opposite of her establishment opponent, Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL).
Macie joined Breitbart News Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle for a 20-minute discussion shortly before Rutherford voted in favor of all parts of Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) $95 billion foreign aid package. This package includes a $60 billion allocation for Ukraine without addressing the U.S. Southern border.
Boyle, who is Rutherford’s constituent, and Macie anticipated that Rutherford would vote for the foreign aid bills that Johnson grouped together under a single rule. Rutherford supported this rule, effectively ceding control of the House floor to Democrats. This followed his previous vote against a crucial amendment to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which would have required warrants to monitor Americans’ communications.
Macie remarked that she would vote the complete opposite of Rutherford, saying he votes more like a Democrat.
She cautioned constituents to pay close attention to the foreign aid vote ahead of Friday’s rule vote and Saturday’s vote on the package.
“I’ve been talking to constituents all week, and like you, I already know how he’s going to vote, so I’ve warned them to watch how this vote plays out because he’s likely to vote against their interests and what they’ve asked him to do,” Macie told Boyle on Saturday.
Macie noted that many of Rutherford’s long-time supporters, including those who knew him when he was a sheriff, and new voters are frustrated with his actions. Many question how Rutherford is their congressman.
Despite Rutherford’s status as an incumbent, Macie believes there will be a competitive fight for his seat due to his decisions, which have upset his constituents.
After the passage of nearly $100 billion in spending, Rutherford praised the move, even as America struggles with 40-year-high inflation under the Biden administration.
Protecting Americans & providing for our national defense is the fundamental duty of the federal gov't. I voted to pass the national security package to invest in U.S. weapons stockpiles & support the U.S. military. My full statement can be found here: https://t.co/GdhiE7eVdN https://t.co/qCUpwkNXNz
— Rep. John Rutherford (@RepRutherfordFL) April 20, 2024
She pointed out that while Rutherford has a base of loyal supporters, many of his constituents who previously voted for him and even know him personally are growing discontented with his voting patterns. This includes his role in blocking House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) from becoming Speaker of the House.
“I think people are starting to realize that he is voting according to the wishes of the establishment and the insiders in Washington, rather than listening to his constituents,” Macie said. “I’ve had numerous people tell me they’ve tried contacting his office and received automated responses, dealt with aides, or received no response at all. People don’t feel like he’s listening, even those who know him personally. Aside from his loyalists, many are seeking new representation, and I don’t blame them.”
Rutherford’s decision to vote against a Jordan speakership, making him one of the few Republicans who successfully blocked Jordan’s bid, led Fifth Congressional District Republicans to urge Macie to enter the race, she mentioned.
“The Jordan situation was a turning point for people; that’s what prompted me to run,” Macie explained. “People reached out to me saying, ‘You said if no one else ran against Rutherford, you would take up the challenge.’ So, I kept my word to offer better representation if no one else stepped forward.”
“His voting record during that period was a wake-up call for people, but even before then, his voting record was already poor,” she added. “He has an ‘F’ rating on four conservative scorecards, including a lower grade than Liz Cheney when she was in office.”
Macie believes her biggest hurdle in the race is local media, which she perceives as favoring the establishment.
“Local media sides with the establishment and doesn’t cover me as they should, keeping those who rely on local news from knowing who I am,” Macie said. “When they do report on me, the articles are clearly skewed in favor of John, attempting to mitigate any impact I might have.”
