House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) swore in a new member of the House on Thursday — Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.), who pulled off a special election win this week that many say bodes ill for Democrats in the November midterm elections.
Jolly narrowly defeated Democrat Alex Sink in a highly-watched contest on Tuesday to fill the seat of the late Rep. Bill Young (R). While Democrats noted that the seat has been held by a Republican for decades, the GOP argued that President Obama won the district in the last two elections and that the race was a bellwether for the midterm elections as a backlash against the president’s unpopular healthcare law.
{mosads}In his brief remarks on the floor, Jolly did not bring up ObamaCare, and instead said what most new members say — that he wants to work with both sides.
“I believe in civility,” he said to his new colleagues. Jolly stressed that while members are elected to fight for their convictions, that should not mean bitter fights against each other.
“It is a fight for the future of our country, not a fight against each other, and I know that,” he said to applause.