Dismissing the election contest relating to the office of Representative from the Fourteenth Congressional District of Florida.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 308
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-09: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-03T01:04:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 308) aims to dismiss a specific election contest filed regarding the primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in Florida's 14th Congressional District. It clarifies the House's limited authority over certain types of elections.
Key Provisions
- Dismissal of Contest: The resolution formally dismisses the election contest submitted on November 17, 2024, for the office of Representative from Florida's 14th Congressional District.
- Basis for Dismissal: It cites section 2(1) of the Federal Contested Election Act (2 U.S.C. 381(1)), which grants the House jurisdiction only over official general elections and special elections to select Representatives, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners. The House lacks authority over primary elections, party caucuses, or conventions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- No changes are introduced; the resolution applies and reinforces the existing provisions of the Federal Contested Election Act without altering its text or scope.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Minimal direct impact, but it streamlines House procedures by resolving the contest quickly, potentially reducing administrative burden on the House Clerk and committees handling election disputes.
- On Citizens: Affects voters and candidates in Florida's 14th District by closing off federal challenges to the primary election outcome, leaving any disputes to state-level processes.
- On International Relations: None apparent, as this is a domestic electoral matter.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Contestant/Filer: The individual or party who filed the November 17, 2024, contest, whose challenge is now dismissed.
- Elected Representative: The winner of the primary (and potentially the general election) for Florida's 14th Congressional District, whose seat is protected from this federal-level challenge.
- House of Representatives: As the body issuing the resolution, it maintains procedural efficiency in handling election disputes.
- Florida Voters and State Officials: Indirectly affected, as primary election challenges shift to state jurisdiction.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Upholds the statutory limits on House jurisdiction under the Federal Contested Election Act, emphasizing the distinction between federal oversight of general elections (rooted in Article I, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution, which gives each House authority to judge its members' elections) and state control over primaries.
- Constitutional: Reinforces federalism principles by deferring primary election disputes to states, avoiding overreach into party-specific processes.
- Political: Could influence future election challenges by setting a precedent for swift dismissals of non-jurisdictional contests, potentially affecting perceptions of transparency in congressional primaries without broader partisan commentary.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-09: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-12-09: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H5102)
- 2025-12-09: Passed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H5102)
- 2025-12-09: Mr. Steil asked unanimous consent to consider as introduced.
- 2025-12-09: Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H5102)
- 2025-04-09: Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 16.
- 2025-04-09: The House Committee on House Administration reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-51, by Mr. Steil.
- 2025-04-09: The House Committee on House Administration reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-51, by Mr. Steil.
Bill Versions
- Dismissing the election contest relating to the office of Representative from the Fourteenth Congressional District of Florida. — issued 2025-12-09 — PDF (1 pages)
- Dismissing the election contest relating to the office of Representative from the Fourteenth Congressional District of Florida. — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (4 pages)