'We will change Washington:' Gov. Rick Scott announces run for US Senate

Scott challenges Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson for Florida seat

ORLANDO, Fla. – Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday at an Orlando business that he will challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson for his U.S. Senate seat.

Puerto Rican Lt. Gov. Luis G. Rivera-Marin introduced his "good friend" Scott before Scott made his official announcement just before 10:30 a.m.

Supporters of Scott's Senate campaign held signs reading "Let's get to work" as the governor walked into the Central Florida construction firm ODC Construction.

"Today, with my wife by my side, I’m announcing I’m running for the U.S. Senate for the great state of Florida," Scott said to a cheering crowd.

Scott said he wants to continue being an outsider in Washington, D.C. just as he did when he first announced his run for Florida governor in 2010 as "a business guy with no background in government."

Scott didn't offer a detailed campaign, but did say he wants to end "career politicians" in D.C. with term limits for Congress and Senate seats.

“We’ve got to bring new ideas, fresh thinking,” Scott said. “Not for the benefit of career politicians.”

Scott said he was told he didn't fit in in Tallahassee, and to that, he agreed.

"I didn't fit in because I didn't play their games," he said. "I'm not going to fit into Washington, either."

Instead of Washington working for politicians, Scott said he wants to make the capitol work for its constituents.

“We can change Washington, we must change Washington, and we will change Washington," Scott said. "Together, let’s get Washington to work.”

Nelson said he is prepared to run against Florida Gov. Rick Scott in a highly anticipated clash between the two politicians.

Nelson on Monday issued a brief statement where he said that while Scott “will say or do anything to get elected” that if he does the “right thing” then the “politics will take care of itself.”

7 a.m.

Florida GOP Gov. Rick Scott will run for the U.S. Senate, setting up an expensive race against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.

Calling Washington "horribly dysfunctional," Scott will challenge Nelson in an election that could be one of the most expensive and highly-watched races in the nation.

The Republican governor will formally announce his campaign to unseat Florida's only statewide-elected Democrat on Monday in Orlando. During his announcement, Scott is expected to criticize "career politicians" and call for term limits for members of Congress.

Scott is a multi-millionaire who never ran for office before he ran for governor in 2010. He rode into office as part of the tea party movement and called for massive budget and tax cuts, but he was forced to scale back his plans amid opposition from the GOP-controlled Legislature. He also changed his hard line positions on immigration.

2:28 am.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is expected to finally jump-start his long-anticipated campaign for U.S. Senate.

Scott will make a "big" announcement on his political future at 10 a.m. Monday in Orlando. It is anticipated that Scott will announce that he's challenging U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson this fall.

Scott first said he may challenge Nelson right after President Donald Trump was elected. Trump has urged Scott to run.

One clear sign that Scott is running is that he broke off ties on Sunday to Let's Get to Work, a political committee he has been associated with since his first campaign.

Nelson is the only statewide elected Democrat and was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000.

Scott was first elected governor in 2010, but he cannot run again because of term limits.

 


Recommended Videos