Congressman Daniel Webster announced on Tuesday he will not seek re-election, opening the door for a competitive race in Florida’s 11th Congressional District as Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini announced his campaign the same day.

Webster, a longtime Republican lawmaker, has represented the district since 2017 after previously serving multiple terms in Congress and as Speaker of the Florida House. His decision creates an open seat for the first time in several election cycles and is expected to draw multiple candidates.

“It has been an honor and privilege to represent my beloved state in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Webster said in a statement. “I’ve never taken for granted my responsibility to Florida’s hardworking taxpayers and families to advance common-sense reforms and principled policy. The time has come to pass the torch to the next conservative leader and spend more precious time with my wife, children and 24 grandchildren.”

Sabatini, a former state representative and current Lake County commissioner, entered the race Tuesday, saying he raised more than $100,000 within the first 24 hours of his campaign.

“Thank you to the many patriots and supporters who came in strong,” he says, adding that his platform will focus heavily on immigration enforcement and what he describes as protecting “the American way of life.”

In his announcement, Sabatini also sharply criticized political opponents, saying he intends to oppose what he called efforts from the “radical left.”

Sabatini previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022 after being elected to the Eustis City Commission in 2016. He ran for Congress in 2022 but did not advance past the Republican primary. In 2024, he was elected to the Lake County Commission, narrowly defeating incumbent Doug Shields in the District 1 race.

Under Florida’s “resign-to-run” law, Sabatini must submit his resignation from the Lake County Commission at least 10 days before the June qualifying period. His resignation would take effect Jan. 3, regardless of the outcome of the congressional race.

The District 1 seat would then become vacant and could be filled by special election or placed on a future November ballot, according to the Lake County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Several other candidates have filed for the District 11 race, including Republicans Chanelle Krisette Barnes, Ivette Palomo and Mike Wilnau; Democrats Barbara Harden “Barbie” Hall, Walter J. Walker, Royal Sylvester Webster II and Dan Williams; and Libertarian Ralph Groves.

With Webster’s departure, this is setting up what is expected to be a closely watched race.