Powerful congressional chairmanship role at stake in GOP primary race between Buchanan, Hyde

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan could soon find himself at the helm of the House Ways and Means Committee, but he must first defend his seat from controversial Sarasota businessman Martin Hyde in the upcoming Republican primary election.

Both men are well known in the Sarasota community, but residents will not be seeing their names on their ballots this year. State officials changed the District 16 boundaries during recent redistricting efforts to only include Manatee County and southern portions of Hillsborough — removing Sarasota from the district in the process.

Buchanan is considered a heavy favorite in the race. He has represented the district since 2013, has served in Congress since 2007, and his candidacy to be Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee gives his supporters added incentive to show up to the polls on election day.

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Hyde would love to be the man to finally unseat the longtime congressman and end his bid for the chairmanship role early. The boisterous Sarasota businessman chose to remain humble about his chances of doing so when he spoke to the Herald-Tribune in late July. He would have to overcome a significant gap in fundraising and a tarnished reputation from controversies that arose during each of his political campaigns.

"I don't think he's got too much to worry about, except for the unexpected you never know," Hyde said. "Obviously, if I was to win, that would be a devastating earthquake shock, and I'm not predicting it. But in a two-horse race? Who can say? Anything can happen."

The winner of the August primary election will run against Democratic Challenger Jan Schneider and write-in candidate Ralph E. Hartman in November.

Vern Buchanan's eyes set on Ways and Means committee

The House Ways and Means Committee is the oldest committee in Congress and its jurisdiction includes tax policy, trade, welfare, social security, and Medicare.

Buchanan is already the second most senior Republican member serving on the committee, outranked only by Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, who is retiring after this term.

If he is re-elected, and the Republican party takes back the House majority this midterm election, his seniority puts him at the top of a short list of candidates for the chairmanship role.

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Other candidates include  Adrian Smith, R-Neb., and Jason Smith, R-Mo. The chairman is formally selected by the House Steering Committee of the majority party after the election cycle.

"It's viewed as the most powerful committee in Congress, and my focus is on working toward the chairmanship," Buchanan said. "Our goal is to take back the majority, I think we will. When that happens I think it's a good opportunity for us to change the direction of governance in Washington going forward."

The prospect has helped Buchanan raise $3.7 million for his re-election campaign and another $2 million for the National Republican Congressional Committee, and his fundraising power is a major plus as he seeks to gain favor from his peers and help the Republican party take a majority of seats in the House.

"I am raising a lot of money, a lot of that is because a lot of people are hoping that I will be the next chairman," Buchanan said. "I've raised almost twice what I normally raise. A lot of the money that we raise is going to go toward taking back the House."

At times, Buchanan has voted across party lines, much to his opponent's dismay, but he has taken a more hard-right stance on more recent votes on hot-button issues like restrictions on assault weapons.

Buchanan's voted against a ban on assault weapons that was introduced by House Democrats on July 29 in response to a slew of recent mass shootings nationwide.

He also cast a nay vote just 10 days prior on the Respect for Marriage Act, which would require the federal government to recognize same-sex marriage.

Like many Republican lawmakers, Buchanan is also pro-life and supports the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn its Roe v. Wade decision. He believes abortion policy should be left to the states.

Martin Hyde makes his case for House seat

Hyde admits his checkered past makes him a longshot to unseat Buchanan during this year's primary.

“I ran because nobody else will,” he said.

Hyde often criticizes the length of Buchanan's tenure and votes he has taken against party lines at times on the hot-button issues as evidence that he would represent a more conservative voice in congress if elected.

More: Who is Sarasota congressional candidate Martin Hyde?

He cites Buchanan's 2019 vote to create new background check requirements for gun sales over the Internet and at gun shows — a vote which Buchanan reversed earlier this year.

Hyde also criticizes his introduction of legislation to ban drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida coastlines and his vote to uphold the results of the 2020 presidential election. He credits himself and the upcoming Republican primary for Buchanan's more recent votes along party lines.

"Vern Buchanan has claimed for years that he's the most bipartisan member of the Florida caucus, and he prided himself on it," Hyde said. "I think in some respects I've done a public service even if I don't get any votes because he's voted the way I would have done in many cases now for about a year."

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Watch: Video shows Sarasota candidate threatening police officer's career during traffic stop

Opinion: The inadvertent lesson taught by Martin Hyde

The congressional candidate made national news in February for attempting to use his status as a candidate for the District 16 race to avoid a speeding ticket and verbally threatening the career of the female Sarasota Police Department officer.

Body cam footage showed him telling the officer, "you’re making career decisions" and "you know who I am, right?"

Hyde penned a public apology 10 days later in an opinion piece submitted to the Herald-Tribune where he indicated that he would no longer run for the seat and, only to reverse course and indicate he would continue his campaign during an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson a week later.

"I did what I did, and I admitted it both times," Hyde said. "It's not like it's the first time... I'm that kind of person. I need to improve as far as that's concerned. But it doesn't make me unfit as a public servant ."

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Who's running in US House District 16 Florida Republican primary race?