Former Lake County official Carey Baker is considering a run to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dan Webster in Florida’s CD 11.
Dan Webster’s retirement has immediately sparked fresh competition inside Florida’s Republican Party, with former Lake County Property Appraiser Carey Baker now weighing a bid for Congress.
Baker. a longtime local and state figure. said he is “seriously considering” running to succeed Webster. who announced he will not seek re-election.. His message frames the potential campaign around years of public service. business experience. and military service. positioning him as a conservative choice for voters in Florida’s 11th Congressional District.
The decision also raises the stakes for a likely Republican primary in CD 11, where Baker could face a second heavy contender: Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini. Sabatini has already run for the seat, setting the stage for a familiar intraparty fight among prominent county-level Republicans.
Baker’s background is rooted in Central Florida politics and administration.. He previously served in the Florida House and Senate, then won countywide election as a constitutional officer overseeing property appraisals.. His most recent effort to return to that role ended in defeat in 2024 after he filed for re-election as a write-in candidate.
Meanwhile, the calendar and the political environment are shifting at the same time.. Webster’s announcement arrives as Florida’s Legislature has advanced a congressional map tied to Gov.. Ron DeSantis’ proposal, changes that can shape how competitive a district feels and how candidates plan their message and outreach.. Under the updated lines described by Misryoum. CD 11 includes all of Sumter County. portions of west Orange County. and most of Lake County.
Insight: When a long-serving member steps aside right as district lines are being finalized, primary dynamics tend to move quickly, and candidates with strong local networks often try to lock in support before attention shifts to statewide party priorities.
Baker’s recent political work has also kept him visible in local party circles. After his 2024 loss, he partnered with Sabatini in an effort to lead the Lake County Republican Party, though the chair bid was not successful.
In the end, the Baker decision is about more than one seat.. With CD 11 trending more reliably Republican under the newer district configuration discussed by Misryoum. the nominee may be determined less by general-election calculations and more by which candidate can consolidate the GOP coalition during the primary.
Insight: For voters, this is a moment of choice within the party, and for Republicans in CD 11 it may largely decide who represents them in Washington once Webster’s tenure ends.