Daniel Webster (Florida politician)

Daniel Alan Webster (born April 27, 1949) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 11th congressional district since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he first entered Congress in 2011. He previously represented Florida's 10th congressional district from 2011 to 2017 (numbered as the 8th district during his first term). Prior to his congressional service, he served 28 years in the Florida Legislature.

Daniel Webster
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Alan Grayson
Constituency	8th district (2011–2013) 10th district (2013–2017) 11th district (2017–present)
Member of the Florida Senate
In office November 3, 1998 – November 4, 2008
Preceded by	John Ostalkiewicz
Succeeded by	Andy Gardiner
Constituency	12th district (1998–2002) 9th district (2002–2008)
89th Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
In office November 19, 1996 – November 17, 1998
Preceded by	Peter Wallace
Succeeded by	John Thrasher
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
In office November 4, 1980 – November 3, 1998
Preceded by	John Mica
Succeeded by	Randy Johnson
Constituency	39th district (1980–1982) 41st district (1982–1998)
Personal details
Born	Daniel Alan Webster April 27, 1949 Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Sandra Jordan ​ (m. 1972)​
Children	6
Residence	Winter Garden, Florida, U.S.
Education	Georgia Institute of Technology (BS)
Website	House website

After receiving his engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, he worked in the family air conditioning and heating business that he now owns and operates. He has been a resident of Florida since the age of seven and resides in Winter Garden. First elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1980 and Florida Senate in 1998, Webster is the longest-serving legislator in the history of the state.[1] He rose to become Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (1996–1998) and Florida Senate Majority Leader (2006–2008); he left the legislature after reaching the legal term limits. He ran unopposed in all of his elections for the state legislature except for the first three: 1980, 1982 and 1984.[2]

Webster was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2010. He has since run three times for Speaker of the House: in January 2015, he received 12 votes; in October 2015, he received 9 votes; in 2017, he received 1 vote. In the 115th United States Congress, Webster sat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Natural Resources Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Early life, education, and business career

Webster as a member of the Florida State House in 1980

Webster as Speaker of the Florida State House

Webster was born in Charleston, West Virginia, the son of Mildred Rada (Schoolcraft), a nurse, and Dennis Webster.[3][4] He was raised in Orlando, Florida where his family moved when Webster was seven, upon a doctor's recommendation that a change of climate might cure Webster's sinus problems.[5] He is a distant relative of the antebellum politician and orator Daniel Webster.[2]

He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was student government chaplain from 1970 to 1971 and a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.[5][6] He graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering.[6] Upon graduation, Webster's Vietnam war era student deferment expired and he became eligible for conscription into the U.S. military. He was not drafted, however, because he failed the physical exam due to lifelong foot problems which prevent him from standing for long periods of time.[7]

Since college, Webster has worked in the family air conditioning and heating business; he presently owns and operates it.[5][8] Webster lives in Winter Garden, Florida.[9]

Florida House of Representatives

Elections

1980

Webster first decided to run for the Florida House in 1979 at the age of 30. He had been working on a project with his church to convert a residential house into a place for Sunday school to be conducted. When the Orange County commissioners rejected the church's request for a zoning exception, Webster investigated and found that the county commission had rejected every zoning exemption request brought before them by a church or religious organization. Seeking to rectify what he thought an injustice, Webster decided to run for public office after finding no politician who shared his displeasure with local and statewide government.[5]

In the Republican primary, Webster ranked first with 38%, but failed to obtain the 50% threshold necessary to avoid a run-off election.[10] In the run-off, he defeated Barbara Owens 54%–46%.[11] In the general election, he defeated Democratic State Representative Henry Swanson 51%–49%, a difference of just 2,070 votes.[12] The race came down to one precinct, Webster's own Pine Hills, which he won.[2]

1982—1984

After redistricting, he decided to run in the newly redrawn Florida's 41st House District. He won re-election to a second term by defeating Craig Crawford 58%–42%.[13] In 1984, he won re-election to a third term against fellow State Representative Dick Batchelor, 54%–46%.[14][15]

1986—1996

After defeating Batchelor in 1984, he never had another election opponent in the State House of Representatives as he won re-election unopposed each two years thereafter.

Tenure

Webster was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1980. There, he served as Minority Floor Leader, and then Minority Whip. In 1996, when the Republicans gained a majority in the House, Webster became the first Republican Speaker of the Florida House in 122 years. He remained Speaker until 1998 when term limits made him ineligible to run for re-election to the state House.[8][16]

During his tenure as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Webster received recognition and awards from a number of organizations, including the American Heart Association for support of AHA priority issues (1996), the Board of Regents Legislative Award (1995), the Florida Association of State Troopers Leadership Award for Excellence in Legislative Leadership (1996), the Florida Banking Association Award (1995), the Florida Chamber of Commerce Legislator of the Year (1995), the Florida Farm Bureau Legislative Award (1995), the Florida Hotel and Motel Association Special Recognition Award (1995), the Florida League of Cities Quality Floridian (1995), the Florida Medical Association recognition award (1996), and the Republican Party of Florida Statesman of the Year award (1995).[6]

Education

Webster's first bill to become law was the 1985 Home Education Program Act which legalized homeschooling in Florida. He considers it his most significant legislation.[2] He homeschooled his six children, remains a homeschooling advocate,[2] and a member of a non-denominational Christian organization that promotes homeschooling, the Institute in Basic Life Principles.[17] While Speaker of the House in 1997, Webster insisted that legislation providing funding to schools must balance the needs of all school districts and not raise any new taxes.[18] He agreed to a school construction plan funded by borrowing up of to 2.5 billion in bonds, though he thought the crowding problem was being exaggerated for political purposes.[18][19][20] He also sponsored 1998 legislation to improve and streamline pre-kindergarten education and provide training for parents who would be homeschooling their children.[21]

Marriage

In 1990, Webster sponsored and supported legislation in Florida introducing the policy of covenant marriage. This would make divorce between even two consenting individuals much harder, except in cases of infidelity.[22]

Committee assignments

• House Transportation Committee (Ranking Member)[23]

Florida Senate

Elections

He ran unopposed for the Florida Senate in Florida's 12th and 9th Senate Districts. He served until reaching the term limit in 2008.

Tenure

In 2002, he unsuccessfully tried for the position of Senate President.[24][25] From 2006 to 2008, he served as Senate Majority Leader. In 2006, while Majority Leader of the Florida Senate, he received the Florida Family Policy Council Award (2006).[2]

The Florida Department of Transportation Turnpike District Headquarters was named the "Senator Daniel Webster Building" in 2008 and in 2005 State Road 429 was designated the "Daniel Webster Western Beltway".[2] In addition, the largest committee room in the Florida House was named "Speaker Daniel Webster Hall" in his honor in 2008.[2]

Drugs

In 2007, Webster attached an amendment to a bill for steroid testing of high school athletes that would have created an oversight body for private school athletes separate from the Florida High School Athletic Association.[26] He said the provision was in response to complaints from private schools that had been allegedly singled out for recruiting violations.[26]

Abortion

In 2008 Webster sponsored SB 2400 in the Florida Senate requiring that all women planning to undergo an abortion receive an ultrasound, but giving them a choice of whether to see the live images of the fetus.[27][28] He argued that it would give women more medical information prior to receiving an abortion, and said if that changed some women's minds, it would make him happy.[27][28] Opponents said the measure would be an invasion of privacy.[27] The bill did not pass the Senate at that time, but later became law.[28][29] He also sponsored a law that would have required minors to notify their legal guardians before receiving an abortion.[2] It has been alleged that Webster does not believe in the right to have an abortion following rape or incest. When questioned by a reporter on the topic, Webster declines to comment.[30] He eventually stated that this was an issue being used to distract from his real issue which was that "Washington is broken." [31]

Schiavo case

Webster was a central figure in the Terri Schiavo case which involved a dispute between relatives on whether to remove the feeding tube of an unconscious woman who had been in a persistent vegetative state for years. In March 2005, he introduced SB 804 that would have prohibited such patients from being denied food and water if family members disagreed on the patient's wishes and if the patient had not expressed his wishes in writing when competent.[32] The bill failed to pass the Senate by three votes.[32][33][34]

Committee assignments

He also chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee.[1]

U.S. House of Representatives

2010

Webster rejected early suggestions by several leaders in the Republican Party of Florida that he run to represent Florida's 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, but in April 2010, he changed his mind and entered the race.[35] Webster's name recognition and an endorsement from former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush quickly turned him into the race front-runner.[36] He was further aided by a late endorsement and campaign rally from former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee.[37] On August 24, 2010, Webster defeated six other candidates in the Republican primary winning nomination with forty percent of the vote, while the runner-up received twenty-three percent.[38] Webster was named one of fifty-two "Young Guns" of the National Republican Congressional Committee's Young Guns Program, those the Republican Party viewed as serious contenders in their races.[39]

The campaign featured ads by opponent Grayson that criticized Webster's conservative religious views on marriage and abortion as well as attack ads against Grayson that were financed by Americans for Prosperity and the 60 Plus Association.[31]

In July 2010, Webster signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to "oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue."[40]

On November 2, 2010, Webster won the seat by a 56% to 38% margin.[41] Three other candidates were on the ballot: Independent George Metcalfe, Florida Whig Party candidate Steve Gerritzen, and Peg Dunmire of the Florida TEA Party.[42][43]

2012

Due to redistricting, Webster ran for reelection in the 10th district. Webster defeated Val Demings, the former Chief of Police of the Orlando Police Department, by a slim 52% to 48% margin to secure re-election.

2014

Webster faced former Navy Chief Petty Officer Mike McKenna, who was a Walt Disney World security officer. McKenna had very limited budget and ran a door-to-door campaign. Webster easily cruised to reelection by a margin of 62% to 38%.[44]

2016

Representative Daniel Webster speaks on Memorial Day at Veterans Memorial Park in The Villages, Florida.

Due to a series of court-ordered re-drawings that made the 10th substantially more Democratic, Webster announced he would instead run in the 11th district.[45] The district's incumbent, fellow Republican Rich Nugent, was retiring. Webster had previously represented much of the redrawn 11th's eastern portion, around Ocala and The Villages. He opted to maintain his residence in Winter Garden, within the borders of the 10th; members of Congress are only required to live in the state they wish to represent. Webster won the Republican primary 60%–40% over Justin Grabelle. He followed up with a 65%–32% victory in the general election over Democrat Dave Koller.

2018

Webster ran for reelection in 2018 for the 11th District. No Republican candidates opposed Webster, thus he advanced to the general election without facing any primary opposition. Webster defeated Democrat Dana Cottrell by the vote of 65%–35%.

2020

Webster is running for reelection in 2020 for the 11th District. No Republican candidates opposed Webster, thus he advanced to the general election without facing any primary opposition. Webster will face Dana Cottrell again, the same candidate he faced in 2018.

Tenure

Webster's main platform in the 2010 election was a call for smaller, streamlined government, spending cuts, budget roll backs, and tax cuts. He also said he would increase the protection of personal rights and encourage financial responsibility in the federal government.[35][46] Webster predicted that if Republicans took back Congress in November, "we would have the opportunity for turning this country around." In the January 2015 vote for Speaker of the House, Webster received the second most Republican votes.[47]

On September 28, 2015, Webster announced that he was running again for Speaker of the House to replace John Boehner.[48] He received 43 votes in the House GOP Conference. However, most members of the Freedom Caucus who voted for him in conference honored their pledge to support Ryan on the House floor, and Webster received nine votes in the final tally.

Despite not being a candidate in the 2017 speakership election, Webster received one vote, from Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Natural Resources (Vice Ranking Member)

2004 U.S. Senate election

Webster briefly ran for the United States Senate in 2004 when he attempted to collect the 93,000 signatures necessary to place his name on the ballot without paying the filing fee. Webster claimed that he sought to be the first Senate candidate to ever qualify using this method as both a symbolic gesture and a way to build an early network of voters.[49] Webster eventually qualified by paying the fee instead, and later dropped out of the race.[50]

When Mel Martinez resigned from the United States Senate, it fell upon Governor Charlie Crist to name a replacement to finish out his Senate term. Webster was floated early on as one of seven potential candidates for the position.[8][51] In the end, George LeMieux was selected for the position.[52]

Political positions

Education

Webster is an advocate for home schooling.[53]

Gun law

Webster is in favor of allowing gun owners to carry concealed firearms across state lines where concealed carry is legal.[54] In 2017, Webster voted in favor of the H.J.Res.40, which successfully used the Congressional Review Act to block implementation of an Obama-era Amendment to the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 that was aimed at preventing the mentally-infirm from legally purchasing firearms.[55]

From 2015–2016, Webster accepted $1,000 USD in direct campaign contributions from the NRA's Political Victory Fund.[56] From 2004–2018, Webster has accepted a total of $37,881 from NRA sources.[57] Webster has an "A" rating from the NRA, generally indicating a voting record that supports gun rights.[58]

Human rights

Webster has a "0" rating from the Human Rights Campaign regarding his voting record on LGBT-related matters. He co-sponsored the First Amendment Defense Act. He does not believe in same-sex marriage.[59]

Abortion

Webster is pro-life and is against abortion under any circumstances.[53]

Cannabis

Webster has a "D" rating from NORML for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes. He is against veterans having access to medical marijuana if recommended by their Veterans Health Administration doctor and if it is legal for medicinal purposes in their state of residence.[60]

Tax reform

Webster voted in support of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[61] He believes the current tax code is "punishing taxpayers" and is broken. He says the 2017 act "allows Americans to keep more money in their pockets, ends lobbyist loopholes and special-interest exemptions, and makes everyone play by the same rules." He says "the majority" of his constituents will be "among the biggest winners in the nation," as a result of the new tax policies.[62]

Texas v. Pennsylvania

In December 2020, Webster was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives who signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden prevailed[63] over incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of the election held by another state.[64][65][66]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement that called signing the amicus brief an act of "election subversion." Additionally, Pelosi reprimanded Webster and the other House members who supported the lawsuit: "The 126 Republican Members that signed onto this lawsuit brought dishonor to the House. Instead of upholding their oath to support and defend the Constitution, they chose to subvert the Constitution and undermine public trust in our sacred democratic institutions."[67][68] New Jersey Representative Bill Pascrell, citing section three of the 14th Amendment, called for Pelosi to not seat Webster and the other Republicans who signed the brief supporting the suit. Pascrell argued that "the text of the 14th Amendment expressly forbids Members of Congress from engaging in rebellion against the United States. Trying to overturn a democratic election and install a dictator seems like a pretty clear example of that."[69]

Second impeachment

Webster did not cast a vote regarding the second impeachment of Donald Trump on January 13, 2021 due to a " family medical obligation".[70]

Personal life

Webster is a Southern Baptist and attends First Baptist Church of Central Florida.[71] He is on the University of Central Florida board of trustees.[72] He and his wife Sandra E. "Sandy" (Jordan) Webster have six grown children. As of 2018, they have seventeen grandchildren.[2]

The Websters home-schooled their children using the curriculum of the Advanced Training Institute, which was founded by Bill Gothard.

In May 2014, their son John married Alyssa Bates, daughter of Gil and Kelly Bates. The Bates family stars in the reality show Bringing Up Bates and have been recurring guests on the show 19 Kids and Counting, which depicts the lives of their friends, Jim Bob Duggar and his wife Michelle.

References

1. "Senate Republican President Designate Ken Pruitt Appoints Senate Leaders". Tallahassee, Florida: Florida Senate. November 13, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
2. James A. Smith, Sr. (May 8, 2008). "Webster leaves Legislature with family, principles, faith intact". Florida Baptist Witness. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
3. "Webster's Mother Dies". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
4. "Mildred Rada Schoolcraft 1917-2001 - Ancestry". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
5. Hollis, Mark (August 14, 1996). "Webster is Poised to Become House Speaker". The Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. p. D4. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
6. "Representative Daniel Webster Speaker (1996–1998)". Tallahassee, Florida: Florida House of Representatives. 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
7. Bill Thompson (September 29, 2010). "Grayson criticized for recent attack ads: Opponent Webster calls the ads false and distorted". Ocala Star-Banner.
8. Kam, Dara (August 20, 2009). "Crist puts Dan Webster on list of U.S. Senate candidates". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
9. Anita Kumar (March 18, 2005). "One by One, Options Sink". St. Petersburg Times. p. 9A. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
10. "Our Campaigns - FL State House 39 - R Primary Race - Sep 09, 1980". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
11. "Our Campaigns - FL State House 39 - R Runoff Race - Oct 07, 1980". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
12. "Our Campaigns - FL State House 39 Race - Nov 04, 1980". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
13. "Our Campaigns - FL State House 41 Race - Nov 02, 1982". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
14. "Our Campaigns - FL State House 041 Race - Nov 06, 1984". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
15. AP staff reporter (July 11, 1984). "7 Floridians Drop from Democratic Delegation". The Gainesville Sun. Gainesville, Florida. p. 3D. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
16. Bousquet, Steve; Alex Leary (April 26, 2007). "Tax Swap Runs into Words of Caution". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
17. Mark Schlueb (September 26, 2010). "Grayson TV ad compares Webster to Taliban; Incumbent in U.S. House race, Alan Grayson continues tough TV commercial campaign". Orlando Sentinel.
18. Schlenker, Dave (November 6, 1997). "School Districts May Have to Raise Some of Their Own Funds". Ocala Star-Banner. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
19. Michael Griffin (November 8, 1997). "Cash Ready For Schools Chiles: Expect To See A Building Boom In 1998". Orlando Sentinel. p. A.1. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
20. Gady A. Epstein (November 7, 1997). "$2.7 billion deal reached for schools". Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013.
21. Andrews, Bill (March 30, 1998). "Give Kids a Great Gift: A Head Start on Life". Boca Raton News. Boca Raton, Florida. p. 8A. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
22. Palm, Anika Myers. "Florida chapter of National Organization for Women endorses Alan Grayson". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
23. "Biography - Congressman Dan Webster". house.gov. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
24. "Daniel Webster". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. 2010. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
25. S.V. Date (January 6, 2002). "Eight Isn't Enough If Senate District-Flippers Manage To Get Their Way". The Palm Beach Post. p. 3E.
26. Goodbread, Chase (May 3, 2007). "FHSAA could be public-only". The Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
27. Michael C. Bender (April 29, 2008). "If watching ultrasounds changes minds on abortion — great, Webster says". The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
28. Royse, David (May 1, 2008). "Abortion Ultrasound Bill Fails in Florida Senate". Jacksonville, Florida: firstcoastnews.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
29. Ashley Lopez (June 27, 2011). "Scott signs two more abortion bills into law". The Florida Independent. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
30. Grim, Ryan (September 26, 2010). "Alan Grayson Opponent Challenged By Local Media On Opposition To Abortion Rights For Rape Victims (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
31. Cave, Damien (October 6, 2010). "A Florida Lawmaker Not Known for Subtlety, and Proud of It". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
32. Samantha Gross (March 24, 2005). "Florida Senate rejects bill to keep Schiavo alive". StAugustine.com. Associated Press. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
33. Steven Ertelt (March 18, 2005). "Florida Senate Decides Not to Approve House-Passed Bill on Terri Schiavo". LifeNews. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
34. Follick, Joe; Lloyd Dunkelberger (March 18, 2005). "Effort to Keep Schiavo Alive Falters in Senate". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. p. 18A. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
35. Schlueb, Mark (August 24, 2010). "Florida Primary Results 2010: Florida Dan Webster is GOP nominee to take on Alan Grayson in November". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
36. Sahd, Tim (August 22, 2010). "FL, AZ House: Top 5 Primaries To Watch Tuesday". National Journal. Washington, D.C. Atlantic Media Company. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
37. Matthews, Mark (August 20, 2010). "Huckabee to rally for Webster on Sunday, maybe Diebel too". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. Tribune Company. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
38. AP and WOFL FOX staff (August 25, 2010). "Webster wins Fla. GOP nod to challenge Grayson". My Fox Orlando. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
39. Miller, Sean (August 31, 2010). "NRCC ups its 'Gun' count to 52". The Hill. Washington, D.C. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
40. Americans for Prosperity Applauds U.S. House Candidate Daniel Webster Archived June 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine; Americans for Prosperity; July 15, 2010
41. Fell, Jacqueline (November 2, 2010). "Grayson Concedes in District 8 Race". Central Florida News 13. Orlando, Florida. Bright House Networks. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
42. "Candidate Listing for 2010 General Election". Division of Elections. Tallahassee, Florida: Florida Department of State. 2010. Archived from the original on August 31, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
43. Ferris, Kevin (August 29, 2010). "Back Channels: Democrats backing 'tea-party' candidates". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
44. Crate, Paul (November 5, 2014). "U.S. Congress District 10: Rep. Daniel Webster Is Easily Returned To Office". The ledger. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
45. U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster will challenge for District 11 congressional seat
46. Webster, Daniel (2010). "The Issues". Daniel Webster for Congress. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
47. French, Lauren. "How not to oust a speaker". Retrieved January 11, 2015.
48. "U.S. Rep. Dan Webster 'running hard' to replace House Speaker John Boehner". September 28, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
49. Brendan Farrington (February 22, 2004). "Senate Candidate Seeks 93,000 Signatures". Boca Raton News. Boca Raton, Florida. p. 15. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
50. Damron, David (April 22, 2010). "Will Webster run against Grayson? It looks like it". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. Tribune Company. p. 1. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
51. Steve Bousquet (August 8, 2009). "Martinez's replacement could be Jim Smith, a former attorney general and secretary of state". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
52. Balz, Dan (August 28, 2009). "Florida Governor Taps LeMieux for Senate". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
53. Herszenhorn, David M. (October 8, 2015). "Daniel Webster Wins Conservative Republicans' Endorsement for House Speaker". The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
54. Bycoffe, Aaron (January 30, 2017). "Tracking Daniel Webster In The Age Of Trump". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
55. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board (February 18, 2018). "In the wake of school shooting, follow the money". SunSentinel. Broward County, Florida. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
56. Grinberg, Emanuella (February 21, 2018). "These Florida lawmakers accepted money from the National Rifle Association". CNN. Atlanta. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
57. "Guns & money: How all members of Congress are affected by the NRA's spending". Las Vegas Sun. Las Vegas, Nevada. February 23, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
58. "Rating Group: National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund". ISPY. Vote Smart. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
59. "HRC Previews House Speaker Vote: John Boehner's Anti-LGBT Agenda to Continue | Human Rights Campaign". Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
60. "Florida Scorecard". NORML. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
61. Almukhtar, Sarah (December 19, 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
62. "Lawmakers offer opposing views as 'historic' tax cut plan moves through Congress | Villages-News.com". Villages-News. December 19, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
63. Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). "Biden officially secures enough electors to become president". AP News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
64. Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
65. "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
66. Diaz, Daniella. "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
67. Smith, David (December 12, 2020). "Supreme court rejects Trump-backed Texas lawsuit aiming to overturn election results". The Guardian. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
68. "Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court Rejecting GOP Election Sabotage Lawsuit" (Press release). Speaker Nancy Pelosi. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
69. Williams, Jordan (December 11, 2020). "Democrat asks Pelosi to refuse to seat lawmakers supporting Trump's election challenges". TheHill. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
70. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/13/us/politics/trump-second-impeachment-vote.html
71. Staff (January 5, 2011). "Ten Southern Baptists sworn in as new reps". Baptist Press. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
72. Kaczor, Bill (October 22, 2009). "State panel names 21 Fla. university trustees". Newsday. Melville, New York. Retrieved September 1, 2010.

External links

• Congressman Daniel Webster official U.S. House website
• Daniel Webster for Congress
• Daniel Webster at Curlie
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress