Congressional race gets less crowded: Jerry Torres leaves District 15 race for District 14

The crowded Republican field in the U.S. House District 15 race has shrunk by 25% this week.

Jerry Torres, who filed last week to run, has changed plans and will instead challenge incumbent Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, in U.S. House District 14. That district covers parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Torres’ shift came a day after Dennis Ross of Lakeland announced Monday that he was withdrawing from the race. That leaves six candidates still competing in the Republican primary.

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Torres, a former U.S. Army Green Beret and the founder of a defense-contracting company, has pledged to spend as much as $15 million on his campaign, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

District 15 encompasses western Polk County and parts of Hillsborough and Pasco counties. The remaining Republican candidates in the race are Florida Sen. Kelli Stargel of Lakeland; former Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee of Thonotosassa; Florida Rep. Jackie Toledo of Tampa; Demetries Grimes of Lakeland; Jay Collins of Tampa; and Kevin McGovern of Plant City.

Six Democrats and one candidate with no party affiliation are also running.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Torres switches races, leaves US House-15 Republican primary field