Florida candidates suspend campaigns as storm approaches

Florida candidates for governor and the Senate are putting their political campaigns on hold as Tropical Storm Michael nears the state’s panhandle.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) will meet with emergency management officials tomorrow in the area “to make sure local officials have everything they need,” a campaign spokesperson told CNN.

Gov. Rick Scott, the Republican challenging Nelson, will suspend his Senate campaign for the “next few days” to deal with preparations for the storm, a campaign spokesperson told CNN.

{mosads}The Democratic candidate for governor, Andrew Gillum, announced Sunday that he will also leave the campaign trail for a brief period to help prepare for the storm in Tallahassee, where Gillum is mayor. The city is directly in the path of the storm.

Neither CNN or The Hill could reach former Rep. Ron DeSantis, the Republican who left his House seat last month to devote his time to his GOP gubernatorial campaign.

Scott declared a state of emergency on Sunday and activated 500 troops from the Florida National Guard in preparation for Tropical Storm Michael.

The storm is anticipated to strengthen into a hurricane and hit the coast on Wednesday, according to CNN.