Phil Ehr

Ehr was born in Colorado and lived for many years in Pensacola before moving to West Kendall in Miami-Dade County, according to the Florida Keys Citizen.[6] He attended King's College London, earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of the State of New York and a master's degree in international relations from Troy State University.[6][3] Ehr served in the U.S. Navy from 1982 to 2008 and retired as a commander; the Florida Keys Citizen reports his early assignments included the Mariel boatlift and work at Naval Air Station Key West with the Joint Interagency Task Force South.[6][3]

Ehr ran for Florida's 1st Congressional District in 2018 as a Democrat and lost the August primary to Jennifer Zimmerman, 60.5% to 39.5%.[3] In 2020 he won the Democratic nomination in the 1st District after the primary was canceled and lost the general election to Rep. Matt Gaetz, 64.6% to 34.0%.[3]

Ehr entered the 2024 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Florida in July 2023, then withdrew in October 2023 to challenge Rep. Carlos Gimenez in the 28th District.[4][6] He lost the 2024 general election to Gimenez, 64.6% to 35.4%, and was again the Democratic nominee in 2026 after the August 18 primary was canceled.[3] He received 45.6% of the vote to Carlos Gimenez's 52.9%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]