Democratic Congressional candidate Freeman dies

By ANNE EASKER

STAFF WRITER

The race for Florida’s 17th Congressional District is upended after Democratic candidate April Freeman died suddenly Sunday night.

David Freeman posted a photo of the couple together on his wife’s Facebook page Monday afternoon, making the announcement.

“It’s with great sadness that I feel I must inform all of you that my beloved wife April passed away suddenly last night,” he wrote. “To all of her family and friends here on Facebook, my heart aches with you.”

The circumstances of her death were unclear as of Monday.

Freeman won the Democratic primary last month with a 77 percent vote.

She was set to face Republican Greg Steube, who is currently serving in the Florida Senate, representing District 23.

“My thoughts & prayers are with April Freeman’s family in the wake of her tragic passing,” Steube said in an emailed statement Monday. “I respect her service to our community and admire her commitment to the causes she cared about. Out of respect to her memory, next week’s campaign event will be cancelled.”

According to the Florida Division of Elections, Freeman’s name will remain on the November ballot, but the Democratic Party will have the opportunity to designate a nominee to fill the vacancy.

“A notice will be provided to voters indicating that a vote for the former party nominee will be counted for the person designated by the political party to replace the former party nominee,” Director of Communications Sarah Revell said.

A writer and producer, Freeman had two prior runs for office, once in 2014 for the 19th Congressional District and again in 2016, facing

FREEMAN