West Reelection Likely to Be Heated

Freshman Rep. Allen West will face opposition from former West Palm Beach, Florida Mayor Lois Frankel about where his district lines will be drawn in the upcoming redistricting process, reports Roll Call.

“It will be exciting. It will be interesting to watch. It will be expensive,” Palm Beach County Republican Party Chairman Sid Dinerstein told Roll Call. “There will be a lot of mud that will be slung.”

Both Frankel and West have proven their fundraising abilities; West raked in more than $6.5 million in his campaign for the 22nd district, while Frankel pulled in a cool $255,000 in only three weeks.

The redistricting process will take some time, potentially seeing completion in the middle of 2012, but Frankel says she will challenge West in whichever district he runs.

“It absolutely is a race to watch,” said Screven Watson, Florida Democratic strategist.