Dane Eagle

U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy has released the first wave of “Contender” candidates, including state Rep. Dane Eagle.

Eagle, the Majority Leader of the Florida House, represents District 77.

He is running in Congressional District 19 to replace Francis Rooney who announced he is retiring at the end of this term.

“These hardworking candidates have proven their ability to run strong, competitive campaign operations,” McCarthy said in a prepared statement. “We’re going to ensure these contenders are victorious in November by forcing their Democratic opponents to own their party’s radical socialist agenda.”

Eagle, a resident of Cape Coral, said is is grateful for the inclusion.

“I am incredibly thankful to Leader McCarthy for his hard work to make Congress red again and am honored to be on his list of Contenders,” Eagle said in a prepared statement issued Wednesday following McCarthy’s announcement. “It’s a tribute to the hard work of our team and the loyal support we have received from the people of Southwest Florida.”

The addition to the Contenders list comes in the wake of Eagle’s fundraising haul of more than $422,000 in his first finance report of the campaign, more than all the other Republicans in the race brought in combined, according to his campaign.

Born and raised in Southwest Florida, Dane Eagle graduated with honors from Bishop Verot High School where he served as class president and played football, his bio states. He attended Florida Gulf Coast University before graduating from the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

Eagle was elected to the State House in 2012.

“The NRCC’s Young Guns program requires candidates to work towards specific goals and meet benchmarks throughout the election cycle to ensure their campaigns remain competitive, well-funded and communicative within their districts. Contender candidates have completed stringent program metrics and are on the path to developing a mature and competitive campaign operation,” McCarthy’s announcement release states.

Eagle has received a number of recognitions “for his dedication to conservative principles and free market values,” including: the American Conservative Union, Award for Conservative Excellence and Defender of Liberty; Florida Chamber of Commerce, Honor Roll; Americans for Prosperity, Champion of Economic Freedom; Florida Family Council, Champion of the Family and the Liberty First Network, Champion of Liberty.

In the private sector, Eagle is a commercial real estate broker with more than 17 years of experience.

He and his wife Brooke live in the Cape with their 2-year-old golden retriever, Hampton. They are expecting their first child, a boy, in June.

The first round of “Contender” candidates are:

(CA-08) Jay Obernolte

(CA-10) Ted Howze

(CA-21) David Valadao

(CA-39) Young Kim

(CA-45) Don Sedgwick

(CA-48) Michelle Steel

(CA-49) Brian Maryott

(CA-50) Carl DeMaio

(CA-50) Darrell Issa

(CO-06) Steve House

(FL-13) Amanda Makki

(FL-19) Dane Eagle

(FL-27) Maria Elvira Salazar

(GA-06) Karen Handel

(IA-01) Ashley Hinson

(IA-03) David Young

(IL-14) Ted Gradel

(IL-14) Jim Oberweis

(KS-03) Amanda Adkins

(MI-03) Peter Meijer

(MT-AL) Matt Rosendale

(NJ-07) Tom Kean

(NM-02) Claire Chase

(NM-02) Yvette Herrell

(NV-03) Dan Rodimer

(NY-11) Nicole Malliotakis

(NY-22) Claudia Tenney

(OK-05) Stephanie Bice

(PA-07) Lisa Scheller

(PA-17) Sean Parnell

(SC-01) Nancy Mace

(TX-07) Wesley Hunt

(TX-23) Tony Gonzales

(TX-32) Genevieve Collins

(WI-05) Scott Fitzgerald

Source: NRCC press update; Dane Eagle campaign release