Make room for one more in the already-crowded race to replace eight-term Congressman Jeff Miller. Air Force veteran Steven Specht, 33, has officially filed to enter the race.
Miller, who announced last month that he would not seek reelection, has represented Florida’s first congressional district since 2001. The district stretches across six counties in Northwest Florida and has long been considered a Republican stronghold.
“I am running for Congress because I believe I can lead the people of Northwest Florida through intelligent dialogue instead of partisan talking points,” says Specht, a Democrat. “I am dismayed by the partisanship that has raged for most of my adult life. I am inspired by the likes of Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and Henry Clay, all of whom worked with opponents to accomplish great things.”
Specht becomes the second Democrat and ninth overall candidate in the race, which includes six Republicans and one non-affiliated candidate. The district leans heavily Republican; a Democrat hasn’t represented it in more than 20 years, and it hasn’t voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1960. The Cook Political Report gives the district a Partisan Voting Index of R+22 — the highest in the state.
Despite this, Specht remains optimistic. “What the Trump and Sanders candidacies have shown us is that people are fed up with the status quo,” he says. “If people are given the option to vote for an upstart with a good head on his shoulders or a career politician from a political dynasty, they are going to pick me.”
Specht also believes his military service will resonate with voters. “While veterans tend to be more conservative, they also tend to value their own. I will meet with as many veterans as I can and hammer that point home. They may not like the D next to my name, but they will recognize the sacrifices I have made.”
Congressional candidate Steven Specht and his family. (Steven Specht/Special to The Pulse)
After graduating from the University of Florida in 2005 with a degree in journalism, Specht enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he became proficient in Pashto and Dari — languages spoken in Afghanistan. As an airborne cryptologic linguist, Specht supported more than 70 combat support missions over Afghanistan, providing intelligence to troops fighting on the ground.
After receiving an honorable discharge, Specht remained in Afghanistan for another year as a civilian contractor, providing linguistic support for the U.S. Marine Corps. During that time, he also taught English and basic literacy to Afghan workers while completing a master’s degree in International Relations from American Military University.
If elected, Specht says he will prioritize veterans’ issues. “As a veteran, I am concerned with the large number of suicides in our veteran population. Reintegration is tough. Jeff Miller recognized that, and I want to continue his work.”
Specht also identifies education and fiscal responsibility as central issues in his campaign. He criticizes both President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush for significantly increasing the national debt. “There are merits to limited government and to big government,” he says. “But whatever government we choose, we must pay for it. Fifteen years of foolish fiscal policy will saddle my children and grandchildren with a burden they didn’t earn.”
He also stresses the need for a competitive workforce. “There was a time when a high school or college education was enough, but today we must constantly upgrade our skills. The days of 30 years at one job and a gold watch are gone, so we need education reforms that reflect today’s world.”
Specht is committed to lifelong learning himself. Not content with two degrees, he is set to graduate with honors from the Florida State University College of Law with a specialization in constitutional and international law.
Specht lives in Pensacola with his wife Lauren, an active-duty physician assistant in the United States Navy, and their six-month-old son.
For more information, visit stevenspecht.com.