Joe Strada secures support from James Uthmeier, Wayne Ivey, Bill Gladson in CD 11

Joe Strada continues to rack up endorsements in his bid to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster in Florida’s 11th Congressional District.

Attorney General James Uthmeier, Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey and State Attorney Bill Gladson are all behind the businessman as he seeks the Republican nomination.

Uthmeier called Strada a “successful entrepreneur who built an air conditioning and plumbing company from the ground up.”

“He’s a conservative with real world experience! I’m confident Joe will fight for the Free State of Florida just as he has for his thousands of employees,” Uthmeier said. “He has my endorsement!”

Ivey was no less enthusiastic.

“Joe Strada has invested personally in supporting Central Florida’s men and women in law enforcement and like me he understands that governments one and only responsibility is to protect its citizens!! Joe is a tremendous example of private citizens bridging the gap for Deputies and their families in times of need! I am proud to endorse Joe Strada for Congress because he is an American success story with a voice that represents Florida’s hard working citizens!”

Gladson said Strada would be a change agent if elected to Congress.

“Central Florida families make tough decisions each and every day and deserve a fighter like Joe Strada in Washington who is unafraid to do the same. Joe Strada has my full endorsement because I know he has what it takes to drain the swamp and put hard working Floridians first,” he said.

These new endorsers join House Freedom Caucus co-founder Jim Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise in backing the founder of Strada Services, which is now the largest privately held and family-owned air conditioning, electric, security and plumbing company in the country.

Strada, a home services entrepreneur, entered the race in mid-June and is the best-financed of the five Republicans running in CD 11, largely on the strength of his own money.

In his first fundraising report, Strada loaned his campaign $5 million and raised more than $131,000 in outside contributions.

By comparison, Dr. Nizam Razack self-funded $560,000 of his $675,000 first-quarter haul and closed June with $62,000 in the bank. Business owner Tim Wilkins had more than $208,000 in cash at the end of the quarter after raising $82,000 and loaning himself $236,000.

Former Lake County Property Appraiser Carey Baker raised $156,000 and loaned another $12,000, closing the quarter with $105,000. Ivette Palomo reported no fundraising.

That means Strada’s self-funding outpaced the rest of the Republican field. The candidates will face off in an Aug. 18 Primary.

Democrats trail even farther behind Strada’s pace. Barbie Harden Hall, the party’s 2024 nominee and its leading fundraiser this cycle, suspended her campaign in June, citing health issues. Among Democrats still in the race, Royal Webster has raised less than $16,000.

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Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics contributed to this report.