David Joseph Weldon (born August 31, 1953) is an American politician and physician. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida's 15th congressional district, and was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination in Florida's 2012 U.S. Senate race.
Dave Weldon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | |
Presumptive nominee | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| President | Donald Trump (elect) |
| Succeeding | Mandy Cohen |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 15th district | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Bacchus |
| Succeeded by | Bill Posey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 31, 1953 Amityville, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Nancy Weldon (m. 1979) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Indialantic, Florida |
| Alma mater | Stony Brook University (BS) University at Buffalo (MD) |
| Profession | Physician |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
In November 2024, Donald Trump named Weldon as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[1]
Early life, education, and medical career
editThis article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2024) |
Weldon was born in Amityville, New York on Long Island[2] to Anna (née Mallardi) and David Joseph Weldon Sr. After graduating from Stony Brook University in 1978, he earned his M.D. degree at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine in 1981.
Weldon served in the United States Army from 1981 to 1987 and the United States Army Reserve from 1987 until 1992. He practiced as a physician in Florida after becoming an MD.
U.S. House of Representatives
editElections
edit- 1994
Weldon decided to run in Florida's 15th congressional district, vacated by Democratic U.S. Congressman Jim Bacchus. He was one of seven Republicans to file for the primary. On September 8, he ranked first with 24% of the vote, but failed to reach the 50% threshold to win outright.[3] In the October 4 run-off election, he defeated Carole Jean Jordan 54–46%.[4] In the November general election, he defeated Democrat Sue Munsey 54–46%.[5]
- 1996
Won re-election to a second term defeating John L. Byron 51–43%.[6]
- 1998
Won re-election to a third term with 63% of the vote.[7]
- 2000
Won re-election to a fourth term with 59% of the vote.[8]
- 2002
Won re-election to a fifth term with 63% of the vote.[9]
- 2004
Won re-election to a sixth term with 65% of the vote.[10]
- 2006
Former presidential candidate Bob Bowman, a Democrat, challenged Weldon in 2006. The incumbent raised significantly more campaign funds than Bowman. By the end of September, Weldon's total was $673,321 versus $21,944 for Bowman.[11] Weldon also refused to debate Bowman during the campaign.[12] In the November election, Weldon received 125,596 votes to Bowman's 97,947.[13] Weldon won re-election to a seventh term with 56% of the vote.[14]
- 2008
On January 25, 2008, claiming "He never wanted to be a career politician", Weldon announced he would not seek an eighth term and would be returning to his medical practice.[15] He endorsed state Senator Bill Posey to succeed him.
Tenure
editIn response to the legal battle over the removal of the feeding tube of Terri Schiavo, Weldon introduced legislation to force review of the case by the federal government. Weldon, who has a medical degree, believed that Schiavo was not in a vegetative state. He supported his belief saying, "She responds to verbal stimuli, she attempts to vocalize, she tracks with her eyes, she emotes, she attempts to kiss her father."[16]
In December, 2005, Weldon joined with several other Congressmen to form the Second Amendments, a bipartisan rock and country band set to play for United States troops stationed overseas over the holiday season. Weldon plays the bass guitar.[17]
During his time in Congress, Weldon raised concerns about the safety of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, as well as the safety of Gardasil, the vaccine that protects against the papillomavirus virus.[18]
Committee assignments
edit- Committee on Appropriations
- Committee on Science
- Committee on Education and the Workforce
- Committee on Banking and Currency
- Committee on Government Reform
Caucus memberships
edit- Republican Study Committee[19]
- Congressional Aerospace Caucus (Co-founder and chair)
- Congressional Israel Allies Caucus (Co-founder and chair)
2012 U.S. Senate election
editWeldon decided to run for the U.S. Senate in 2012 in the hope of facing Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson. His opponent in the Republican primary was U.S. Representative Connie Mack IV. Weldon ran as a Christian conservative, and trailed Mack in both funding and name recognition. He lost the Republican primary with 20% of the vote, coming in second behind Mack's 59%. Mack went on to lose the general election to Nelson, 42-55%.
2024 Florida House of Representatives election
editWeldon ran for Florida's 32nd House of Representatives district in 2024 against state senator Debbie Mayfield, losing the primary 35% to 65%.
Post-politics
editWeldon has a medical practice at Health First Medical Group in Malabar, Florida.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Trump chooses Dr. Dave Weldon to head Center for Disease Control".
- ^ Hooker, Theresa (October 19, 2016). "Finding Aid of Congressman Dave Weldon M.D. Papers". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL District 15 - R Primary Race - Sep 08, 1994". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL District 15 - R Runoff Race - Oct 04, 1994". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL District 15 Race - Nov 08, 1994". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL District 15 Race - Nov 05, 1996". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL District 15 Race - Nov 03, 1998". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL District 15 Race - Nov 07, 2000". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL District 15 Race - Nov 05, 2002". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL - District 15 Race - Nov 02, 2004". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ Larry Wheeler, "GOP leading Space Coast race for cash: Weldon, Feeney report finances", Florida Today, October 18, 2006
- ^ Amber Smith, "Incumbent Touts His Achievements" Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, The Ledger, October 31, 2006
- ^ John McCarthy, "Weldon coasts to an easy win", Florida Today, November 8, 2006
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL - District 15 Race - Nov 07, 2006". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ Mary Ann Akers, "Rep. Weldon To Spend More Time With Family, Really", Washington Post, January 25, 2008
- ^ Aimie Parnes, link "Lawmaker races clock in attempt to save Schiavo", Naples News, March 12, 2005
- ^ https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051222/ap_en_mu/rockin__congressmen [dead link]
- ^ "Trump picks former Florida Rep. Weldon to lead CDC". Politico. 2024.
- ^ "Meet Dave - Dave Weldon for Senate". Archived from the original on August 8, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
External links
edit
- Congressman Dave Weldon official U.S. House website
- Dave Weldon for Congress official campaign website
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Online Focus: U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon (interview re: stem cell research), Public Broadcasting Service (August 9, 2004)
- Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. testimony before the Institute of Medicine Immunization Safety Review Committee, SafeMinds (January 11, 2001)