We may actually have a Democratic primary in South Florida’s favorite congressional 
district this year, thanks to the Florida Supreme Court’s new maps that made District 26 a little bluer.
But is wannabe candidate Andrew Korge the best we can do?
Korge put a trial balloon in the air with a Miami Herald reporter, leaking that he is considering a run against Annette Taddeo for the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 26th District.
You know. The former Joe Garcia vs. David Rivera and Carlos Curbelo vs. Joe Garcia district.
Andrew, a Coconut Grove resident, is different from Annette in that he has never run for office. She’s a pro in that she’s made running for office a full-time job. But Korge has that same blind thirst for elected office. You see? Both are just dying to be electeds. It doesn’t 
matter where.
Taddeo has run for county commission, congress, Lt. Governor, and now congress again. She is just itching to be an elected official, no matter the office or constituency. The same might be said of Korge. Sources close to his father say he first eyed a state House seat occupied by Democrat David Richardson. He is now a candidate for State Senate in 2020, in a seat currently being held by Gwen Margolis. And he allegedly eyed a Florida Senate seat in Broward that Lauren Book wants.
No doubt drawn by the redistricting, he has now turned his attention to FL 26. And why not? He can see that Taddeo is vulnerable. He can see that she is already having trouble fundraising. Sure, okay, she’s collected just over $461,300 and its no surprise, either. What with those emails begging for contributions coming nearly every day.
But it’s a tiny amount compared to the $1.2 million raised by incumbent Congressman Carlos “CryBaby” Curbelo. And if you look at the Democratic donors giving to Hillary Clinton, it’s a way surprising itsy bitsy fraction.
Ladra researched Taddeo’s public campaign contributions and saw that Andrew Korge may be on to something. We matched it up to Clinton’s Miami-Dade donor list, thinking we would find hundreds in common. But guess what was our surprise? Of Hillary’s 690-some donations from Miami-Dade only 29 gave to Taddeo, who is the ex chairwoman of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party. You read that right! Twenty-nine!
One has to wonder why is it that the 305 donor base is so willing to contribute to the female Dem running for president but are universally shying away from contributing to the local female Dem who happens to be the only announced candidate in one the party’s top targeted races in the county. Maybe they are just tired of giving to Annette Taddeo for This or Taddeo for That. Maybe they might be willing to give to someone else — like a candidate with a chance of winning instead of one with a losing streak.
And maybe Andrew Korge knows this.
His papi, Chris Korge, is a big time Democratic fundraiser. “A Clinton go-to rainmaker,” is what he’s been called. And he might even be able to self fund his boy’s campaign. Even though the elder Korge was recently swindled out of millions of dollars by a Ponzi schemer — and he was even interviewed on national TV about the sordid affair — there are millions more where that came from thanks to his role as a sole source vendor at the Miami International Airport. You see? Before Mayor Carlos Gimenez began his friends and family plan, former Mayor Alex Penelas made many millionaires out of the men he was surrounded by during his administration.
But I digress.
And while Baby Korge may be right about Taddeo being vulnerable, Ladra thinks he’s crazy if he thinks his face is the party’s best bet in one of the most Hispanic congressional districts in the country.
Loyal readers might remember my crush on former 
Cutler Bay Mayor Ed “Big Mac Daddy” MacDougall, who ran for that seat in the Republican primary last year. A former cop, war hero and self-made millionaire — what’s not to like?– Mac spent hundreds of thousands of his own money trying to defeat Curbelo, a lobbyist with a secret client list who had been artificially propped up by the establishment.
But while he was the best candidate by far, Mac’s money and resume meant nothing at the end of the day because, as Ladra lamented, he did not have a z or a vowel at the end of his name (and a silent e does not count, Mr. Korge). MacDougall got 58% in the Monroe County part of the district. But he came in third behind both Curbelo and former Miami-Dade Chairman Joe Martinez in Miami-Dade.
Okay, so that was a Republican primary and Korge would be running in a Dem primary against a three time loser who does not have the support of the Clinton machine. It would not surprise us, actually, if he beat Taddeo. But could he overcome the Hispanic thing and do we really want to risk it when we can make Curbelo a one-term congressman?
Do Democrats really 
want to take that chance? They’e just been handed a gift by the Supreme Court — a newly drawn district that Barack Obama won by ten points in 2012. Do Democrats really want to risk a Curbelo re-election by fielding an Anglo in what has already proven to be a Hispanic seat?
Ladra says no, but I bet Carlos Curbelo would be the first person to contribute to an Andrew Korge for Congress campaign.
And that’s the least of Annette’s problems. She better beg Santa that a more serious candidate — maybe even a Cuban — doesn’t see the chink in her armor that Andrew Korge glimpsed.
A weak, wounded Annette Taddeo is prime for a primary added by Ladra on
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Let’s leave politics aside, which is to say discuss matters of actual importance for the voters of District 26 which I used to be for many years, now hailing in neighboring
How is Annette doing with donations from supporters of Bernie Sanders and registered independent voters. Oh, and how many Republicans have donated to her campaign if any?
The conclusory reason of this article is the reason why Mr. Korge will use his patience to run for an office in 2020 to find a new and different office to seek. If he’s really serious about running a race that he can win, and gaining an elected office – no different than the one which vaulted a certain Mr. Rubio into office, though not in the same district – against an incumbent opponent whom he can beat in a competitive district from the last race, Then Mr. Korge will consider some of Miami-Dade’s State House races, particularly against the Bathroom Cop the honorable Representative Frank Artiles.
(Full Disclosure: I have donated to Mrs. Taddeo in this campaign, and in her prior campaign for Congress.)
Lauren Book is not just a leading lobbyist’s daughter but has her own carrier as a children’s advocate. She hss deep n wide community ties n to think Andrew Korge could beat her is simply unlikely. As for Andrew Korge winning against a Jewish candidate in Gwen Margolis’ district is also a no go he has no base like david Richardson whould have. Frankly in ethnic Florida you need a base of voters n volunteers money just doesnt get you anywhere.
Yes, Ronald Reagan did run and lose in the Presidential Primaries of ’68 and ’76.
But unlike Taddeo, he ACTUALLY was the sitting Governor of the largest state in the Union in ’68 and just finished serving 2 HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL terms as California’s Chief Executive in ’76.
Please, do not compare Taddeo to Reagan. You’re just embarrassing yourself.
Ronald Reagan twice ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nominations in 1968 and 1976. So, based on this article, he was a two time loser who should have thrown in the towel.
Joe Garcia? If he were to run as Ladra said…Curbelo would be the first person to write Garica a check.
How many times has Joe Garica lost three out of four campaigns!
So the two democrat choices combined will have lost six out of seven campaigns! No wonder the democrats never win elections even with a half a million more registered voters in the state. I wonder to myself how stupid are the donors that keep feeding these egomaniacs who do not how to run a winning campaign.
Give me a break so Joe’s position on tow time confessed criminal campaign manager Jeff Garica will either be “I’m too stupid to know that my campaign manager and best friend at the time was attempting to steal my election with a massive absentee fraud while we talked and saw each other every day.” or “Yeah I knew all about it thought it was a good idea and was deeply involved…prove it!”
And while we are at it…When a reporter asks Joe about his campaign manager recruiting his business partner and high school chum to run a fake election Joe will say what? “I am too stupid to know that was going on under my nose because I was too busy picking wax out of my ear”. or maybe “Yeah I was involved but the statute of limitations is almost ready to expire and Jeff Garica will never say anything since I paid him a bribe…just look at my campaign finance report under “bonus” for $25,000.”
Please as Ladra so pointed out the Supreme Court has given the Democrats a gift with this newly drawn map lets not blow this golden opportunity on a couple of desperate losers!
Glad Andrew Korge is considering a run. We need new leadership in Washington, and he’s the man for the job! We can’t afford to miss the opportunity to take this seat back from the GOP.
I don’t see how Joe Garcia can be considered with his recent corruption issuese. That’s not the kind of leadership we need. Both Garcia and Taddeo are 3-time losers. Wouldn’t expect a different outcome from them in this race.
I hear Joe Garcia´s plan for feeding the needy starts with his own ear wax.
This guy was abysmal as a congressman.
Joe Garcia is the best bet to make Crybaby a one term Congressman
Don’t forget Joe Garcia hasn’t gone away. He’s still in Miami having forged stronger ties to Miami’s financial hub.
Taddeo is not going to be facing Curbelo in November!
Bring the MAC Attack Back!
I do not think this is the district for Korge. He is a good guy, but the impatience to hold office is unsettling. That is why one can compare him to Tadeo.
Tadeo has no business losing for office for a 3rd time. She should not be running again.
The part about Korge just being as desperate as Annette to hold office, I disagree with. He’s obviously more passionate than she is (especially on climate change and sea level rise). But the non-Hispanic part does concern me. He shouldn’t have a problem defeating Taddeo, but to take on Curbelo, he’ll have to bone up on his Spanish. Andrew is not power hungry, he wants to make a difference.
So now its not enough for lobbyist to give pols campaign $$$$ to do their bidding? They want ALL the dinero to stay in the family so they are running their spawn for political office (see Korge/Book).
Joe Garcia is (VERY) damaged goods and would do his party a disservice by running.
Annette actually gives Dems best chance of reclaiming CD26 (Curbelo is well aware of that) just saying…..