Biography
Phil Ehr is the Democratic nominee for Florida's 28th Congressional District. He is a retired U.S. Navy officer who has run for Congress in prior cycles.[1][2]
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.[3] 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.[3][2] 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.[3][2]
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%.[2] 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%.[2]
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][3] He lost the 2024 general election to Gimenez, 64.6% to 35.4%, and is again the Democratic nominee in 2026 after the August 18 primary was canceled.[2]
- 1.Florida's 28th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 2.Phil Ehr · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 3.Dem Phil Ehr running for Congress in 28th District (Florida Keys Citizen, Feb. 26, 2026) · Florida Keys Citizen · 2026-02-26 News report
- 4.Democrat Phil Ehr exits US Senate race, will challenge GOP Rep. Gimenez for Congress (WLRN, Oct. 18, 2023) · WLRN · 2023-10-18 News report
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.
