Rep. Allen West (R-FL) listens during a hearing on Capitol Hill on April 1, 2011 in Washington, DC. The hearing focused on the ongoing implementation of the repeal of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy barring gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
After losing his seat to Democrat challenger Patrick Murphy, Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) turned down an offer to run for office in Georgia from the state’s Republican Party chairwoman, Sue Everhart, saying that he’s not an “NFL free agent.”
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In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, West addressed Everhart’s offer, he said, “Look, let me tell you something. I have moved my wife around for 20-some-odd years, being in the military, and she was also the daughter of a career military guy.”
“When I retired, she chose Florida. That’s where my daughter’s in school, in college, my youngest daughter’s in high school. That’s our home. It’s a very nice thing, but I’m not an NFL free agent.”
Although Florida officials confirmed that Murphy was the winner of his closely-fought race against the Tea Party favorite, West has refused to concede the election.
Everhart suggested that Rep. West should consider moving back to his home state of Georgia if the vote recount does not go his way.
“I would be glad to have him come back to Georgia and at some point run here,” she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“I would certainly try to help him because he has done his job. The way he ran his race didn’t in any way interfere with the job he did. He ran as a Republican, a conservative Republican.”
