Former Rep. Ted Yoho, who became a nationwide favorite among Republicans after rumors spread that he called Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez a “f**king b*tch,” today announced his support for Florida veteran and businessman James Judge’s run for U.S. Congress.
“I had the opportunity to meet James in 2016 when his company was unveiling a new, life-like, detailed surgical trainer developed through a private sector partnership with the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine,” Yoho said while endorsing Judge.
“Since then, I’ve had him over to my home, gotten to know him, and I firmly believe he is not only qualified as a military veteran and small business owner, but he’s just the right kind of guy you want to help guide our republic back on course and represent the good people of the Tampa Bay area.”
In a press release, Judge’s campaign said “Yoho’s endorsement is Judge’s second major endorsement in the last week, with Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard voicing his public support for Judge last Tuesday.”
James Judge with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (Judge Campaign / Provided)
In 2020, Yoho earned scorn from Democrats after Ocasio-Cortez claimed he called her a “f**king bitch” while they passed each other on stairs. The New York Democrat claimed that such a “confrontation” had never “happened to” her before.
According to the story, Yoho told Ocasio-Cortez she was “out of her freaking mind” after she claimed that poverty and unemployment were the true causes of the crime wave in New York.
She replied that he was being “rude,” as reported by The Hill, and Yoho reportedly shot back that Ocasio-Cortez was a “f**king bitch.”
Apparently, Yoho made the remark as he began descending the stairs, and not directly to Ocasio-Cortez in conversation.
“I know Congressman Yoho and I have talked with him about the alleged incident. I believe his account that he did not actually call AOC what she alleged, despite that being what many people may have been and are likely still thinking about her,” Judge said of the media rumor. “Congressman Yoho has a lot more class than that, and AOC’s idea that suggesting people should be allowed to legally steal is absolutely absurd, and that’s all he was saying.”
Judge is running for Florida’s competitive 14th district, which covers the Tampa area and typically leans Democrat. He believes that Congressional redistricting combined with the mass exodus of conservative New Yorkers fleeing to Florida, in concert with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on the ballot, will lead to a conservative victory in the district.
Should Judge win the Republican primary in August, he will face Democrat incumbent Kathy Castor in November. Castor has held the seat since winning in 2012.
Judge said he was “truly honored” to receive the endorsement, and praised Yoho’s “phenomenal example by pledging to stick to self-imposed term limits” and willingness “to break with the rank-and-file members of the party” by working with the House Freedom Caucus.
Judge has promised voters to serve no longer than 8 years should he be elected to the office.
