Projects: An Unexpected Campaign

Republican Congressional candidate Joe Negron's unsuccessful bid for U.S. Rep. Mark Foley's seat in Congress in the shadow of the Foley sex scandal.

With little more than a month before the midterm elections, Florida state Rep. Joe Negron, from Stuart, was nominated by the GOP to quicly step in at the last minute and run for Florida's 16th Congressional District seat after disgraced U.S. Rep. Mark Foley resigned.

With just weeks before the election, Negron was unable to have Foley's name removed from the ballot. Negron spent much of the campaign educating voters that by voting for Foley, they would actually be voting for Negron.

Negron lost the race to businessman Tim Mahoney.

District 16 Congressional candidate Joe Negron, answers a question during a televised debate in Fort Pierce, Fla. This was the second debate between Negron, Democrat Tim Mahoney and independent Emmie Ross. With little more than a month before the election, Negron was thrown into the campaign when the GOP nominated him to replace disgraced U.S. Rep. Mark Foley.
   
State Rep. Joe Negron scans the sports pages and talks about football with his son Jonathan, 15, at the breakfast table around 7 a.m. at their home before taking him to school and starting a full day of campaigning for Florida's 16th Congressional District seat.
   
After dropping his son Jonathan off at school and meeting briefly with campaign coordinator Cheri Vancura at a local diner to figure out his schedule for the day, state Rep. Joe Negron rushes home to pick up his daughter Becca, 13, and take her to school. Although her friends and fellow students are still to young to vote, Becca still shows support for her father while he campaigns for the 16th Congressional District seat.
     
  
Negron goes over the day's schedule with campaign coordinator Cheri Vancura at the Galaxy Diner in Stuart, Fla. The days start early and end late for Negron as he seeks the congressional seat.
   
Congressional candidate Joe Negron's campaign headquarters in Stuart, Fla.
   
Governor Jeb Bush and state Rep. Joe Negron, along with Negron's wife Rebecca, left, talk with the media following a dedication celebration at the Port Salerno Civic Center for a proposed $15 million senior center that Negron played a key role in. Following this event, Negron and Bush sped away to stay true to their tight schedule which included a fundraiser in Stuart and a quick flight to Charlotte County for more campaigning. At this event and other campaign stops along the way, Negron has been met and confronted by Democratic protestors.
     
  
When he's not traveling throughout the district attending campaign rallies, fundraisers, meetings or spending time with his family, state Rep. Joe Negron is at his humble campaign headquarters in Stuart, Fla., manning the phones and raising money to help with his bid for the 16th Congressional District seat. In addition to raising money on a more grass roots level, the National Republican Party is also pouring in money to help with the race. One of the main hurdles for Negron has been educating voters about former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley's name remaining on the ballot and that a vote for Foley is really a vote for Negron.
   
Local religious leaders pray with Joe Negron following their meeting at Atlanta Bread Company in Stuart, Fla. After the prayer and a series of thank yous and handshakes, Negron jumps in his Jeep and heads down to Palm Beach County for more meetings and campaign stops.
  
Seeking the District 16 seat in congress is a neverending battle that keeps candidate and state Rep. Joe Negron busy all the time.
     
  
When state Rep. Joe Negron was chosen by the GOP to replace former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley as the District 16 congressioanl candidate, local, national and international media became a fixture in Negron's daily life. After a morning meeting with local pastors in Stuart, Fla., he was interviewed by a news crew from Sweden outside Atlanta Bread Company.
   
Following a campaign rally on the west coast at the Captain's Table restaurant in Punta Gorda, Fla., state Rep. Joe Negron, center right, spends a few minutes talking with fellow state Rep. Michael Grant, left, West Charlotte County Republican Club members Raul and Betty Fernandez and others, about what they would like to see happen if Negron is elected to Congress.
   
Joe Negron and Washington-based Republican consultant Todd Harris go over his notes just prior to going on stage for a televised debate.
     
  
At Negron's election party at the Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort and Marina in Stuart, Fla., Eric Going, 17, left, Darrell Pittman, 16, and James Collins, all of Hobe Sound, Fla., cheer as Negron takes a one percent lead over Democratic challenger Tim Mahoney.
   
CNN reporter Susan Roesgen prepares to go live on election night at District 16 congressional candidate Joe Negron's party in Stuart, Fla. Several local, regional, national and international journalists and news outlets shadowed Negron after he was chosen to replace former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley.
   
Negron talks with the media after conceding to Democratic challenger Tim Mahoney after Tuesday's midterm election in Stuart, Fla.
     
  
Heather Carroll, 10, of Hobe Sound, Fla., passes the time at congressioanl candidate Joe Negron's election party on Hutchinson Island. Supporters waited several hours before Negron made his way into the ball room where he anounced to the large crowd that he conceded to Democratic challenger Tim Mahoney.
   
Negron, right, is hugged by Superintendent of Schools for Martin County, Sara Wilcox, after conceeding to Democratic challenger Tim Mahoney at his election party on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, Fla.