In a rare move, the local arm of the Republican Party Thursday voted to rebuke the national party, saying the GOP overstepped its bounds in endorsing Gov. Charlie Crist in next year’s Senate race to replace fellow Republican Mel Martinez.
At least two other Republicans, including former Speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio have said they intend to run for the vacant Senate seat.
In its monthly meeting this week, the Brevard Republican Executive Committee voted to send a letter the National Republican Senatorial Committee, scolding it for endorsing Crist.
Brevard Republican Chairman Jason Steele said three of 99 people at Thursday’s meeting voted against the motion. He said the move had nothing to do with the worthiness of Crist, Rubio or anyone else who might run for the office.
“It is not who they picked, it is that they picked anybody,” Steele said.
