Vero Beach Republican Dan Green Secures Key Florida Endorsements Dan Green expands his congressional bid, securing major…
Vero Beach Republican Dan Green Secures Key Florida Endorsements Dan Green expands his congressional bid, securing major endorsements from high-profile Florida leaders, military veterans, and law enforcement figures for his 2026 campaign. Dan Green endorsements 2026 dan-green-florida-congressional-race Dan Green, Florida District 9, 2026 election, congressional primary, military veterans endorsements, Wayne Ivey politics
Retired reserve Navy officer Dan Green has secured an extensive lineup of high-profile endorsements for his campaign for Florida’s 9th Congressional District, leveraging his 23 years of military service to unite regional political figures, law enforcement personnel, and business leaders behind his conservative platform.
Key Highlights
- Retired reserve Navy officer Dan Green secured a major coalition of law enforcement, veteran, and legislative endorsements for his congressional bid.
- The race unfolds within a dramatically redrawn district that shifted from a Democratic-leaning jurisdiction into a strongly Republican territory.
- Green enters a highly competitive crowded Aug. 18 GOP Primary featuring six other Republican contenders.
- The candidate is backing his campaign with $1 million of his personal funds alongside deep military and defense policy credentials.
Dan Green is expanding his political coalition.
The Vero Beach Republican and veteran naval officer announced a substantial list of endorsements Thursday for his campaign for Florida’s 9th Congressional District, mobilizing law enforcement officials, fellow veterans, corporate executives, and Treasure Coast representatives behind a candidacy deeply rooted in his 23 years of military service.
Green expressed pride in his Indian River County roots, stating that receiving backing from conservative public servants, business executives, and veterans remains a distinct privilege. He emphasized that local families require a representative who understands the sacrifices of service, pledging to align with Donald Trump to prioritize economic affordability and public safety.
This surge of political support arrives within a dramatically redrawn district. Following the implementation of the new congressional map authorized by Governor Ron DeSantis in May 2022, the jurisdiction underwent a significant partisan transformation. It altered from a Democratic-leaning Central Florida seat to a firmly Republican territory where Donald Trump secured approximately 58% of the vote. The geographical boundaries now stretch from the Orlando exurbs across Orange, Osceola, and Polk counties down to Indian River, Okeechobee, Highlands, and Glades counties, encompassing Green’s home area.
The structural redistricting transformed a seat previously controlled by Democratic Representative Darren Soto into a highly attractive target for conservative hopefuls. Consequently, Green is navigating a crowded Aug. 18 GOP Primary alongside primary opponents Ben Butler, Marcus Carter, Thomas Chalifoux Jr., Jorge Martinez, Steve Rance, and Justin Story.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, a prominent law enforcement figure across the region, offered an explicit public statement of support for the candidate.
Ivey noted that backing Green represents an straightforward decision, citing the candidate’s readiness to collaborate with Donald Trump on national security, military protection, and economic growth. The sheriff added that Green’s history of overseas service equips him effectively to continue defending American interests within Washington.
State Senator Danny Burgess, an active Army reservist and former executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, concentrated his endorsement on Green’s extensive history in uniform.
Burgess lauded Green as a dedicated fighter capable of confronting federal bureaucracy on behalf of working families. He noted that as a fellow military member, he respects Green’s discipline and unique qualifications, asserting the candidate will be fully prepared to advance conservative legislation from his first day in office.
A deeply personal endorsement originated from retired Navy SEAL Mark Donald, a highly decorated veteran holding the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star with “V” device, and Purple Heart, who previously deployed alongside the candidate.
Donald verified Green’s integrity, intellectual capacity, and practical problem-solving capabilities, distinguishing him from conventional career politicians. Having maintained a multi-year friendship born from shared wartime deployments, the decorated veteran stated he holds absolute confidence in Green’s congressional motivations.
The finalized roster of public officials, community leaders, and military veterans backing Green includes:
State Senator Danny Burgess representing District 23
Former Indian River County Republican State Committeeman Joe Coakley
Retired U.S. Navy SEAL Lieutenant Mark Donald
Indian River Shores Mayor Brian Foley
Gold Star Fathers of Florida Chairman Kris Hager
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey
Indian River County Tax Collector and former state Republican Party Chair Carole Jean Jordan
State Representative Patt Maney representing District 4
Former State Representative Ralph Poppell
Riverfront Packing Company President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Richey
Retired U.S. Army officer and former intelligence operative Félix Rodríguez
Former state lawmaker and past Indian River County Tax Collector Charlie Sembler
Former Florida Secretary of Commerce Jamal Sowell
National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce founder Justin Vélez-Hagan
Maney, a retired Army brigadier general who served as an Okaloosa County judge prior to entering state text, characterized Green as the precise constitutional conservative required for federal office. Meanwhile, Rodríguez, an influential Cold War intelligence figure present during the Green is building his platform on a professional background designed for current political dynamics. The Vero Beach High School alumnus remains an active reserve officer with 23 years of Navy service and five operational deployments spanning Iraq and Afghanistan under Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. In 2019, the White House selected him as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development, contributing directly to the National Defense Strategy. He additionally co-founded the War Veterans Fund in 2018 to boost veteran representation in Congress, initiating his personal race with $1 million in self-funding.
The critical Primary Election takes place on Aug. 18, preceding the definitive General Election scheduled for Nov. 3.
Future Outlook
The shifting demographics and newly drawn boundaries of Florida’s 9th Congressional District position it as a critical battleground for the Republican party. The upcoming Aug. 18 primary will serve as a decisive indicator of whether voters favor candidates with extensive military and defense policy backgrounds like Green, or if alternative local business and political figures can consolidate enough regional support to capture the newly structured conservative base.
FAQs
When is the primary election for Florida’s 9th Congressional District?
The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 18, which will determine the definitive Republican nominee ahead of the general election on Nov. 3.
How did the boundaries of Congressional District 9 change?
Following redistricting legislation signed in May 2022, the district expanded southward from the Orlando exurbs to include Indian River, Okeechobee, Highlands, and Glades counties, transforming it into a mathematically favorable Republican seat that voted 58% for Donald Trump.
What is Dan Green’s military and professional background?
Dan Green has accumulated 23 years of service as a Navy reserve officer, completing five deployments across Iraq and Afghanistan. He also served in Washington as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development in 2019.
