Florida Primary: Tea Partier Beats Veteran Congressman

Cliff Stearns leaving House after 24 years
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 15, 2012 1:27 PM CDT
Florida Primary: Tea Partier Beats Veteran Congressman
Cliff Stearns presides over a subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

After 24 years in the House, Cliff Stearns has been booted by a Tea Partier with no political experience. Stearns conceded defeat in the Florida GOP primary today, Roll Call reports, saying in a statement that "there are not enough provisional ballots to make up the difference" he would need to win. The congressman says he has spoken to veterinarian Ted Yoho and that he "[wishes] him the best in his effort to represent the wonderful people of north central Florida." Yoho had 34% of the vote and Stearns 33% in what Politico calls a "stunning" upset. (More Cliff Stearns stories.)

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