'Carpetbagger primary': Consultant rips GOP candidates flooding red state to 'rehab' image

Republicans are flocking to Florida after previously running for Congress from other states, annoying one GOP strategist enough to complain the Sunshine State isn't a vehicle for them to "rehab" their images.

Axios reported Thursday night that a whopping five Republican candidates are running in Florida to replace Rep. Byron Donalds (R), who is mounting a campaign for governor.

That includes recently arrested former Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), disgraced former Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY), Ola Hawatmeh, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New York, former Illinois state senator Jim Oberweis, and Catalina Lauf, who lost to former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).

The race also includes Jim Schwartzel, president of Sun Broadcasting, Johnny Fratto, who tried to take on Rep. Mario Diaz Balart (R-FL), and retired Marine Mike Pedersen.

The influx of out-of-staters appeared to irk Florida Republican consultant Travis Horn, who told the outlet that while "virtually everyone" in Florida is from "somewhere else," he insisted, "We're not a state where everyone should think they can just come and run for office and rehab their image."