Dan Rodimer.Photo: John Locher/AP/Shutterstock
Politicoand the Tribune report that Rodimer is now one of 23 candidates running for Texas' open seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, which has been vacant sinceRep. Ron Wright died last monthwhile in the hospital with COVID-19.
“I’m running because we need to fight to keep our constitutional-friendly states,” Rodimer’s campaign website says. “We need fighters in Texas, and that’s what I’m coming here for.”
(Rodimer did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.)
Dan Rodimer.Ethan Miller/Getty
Outside of politics, Rodimer is most well-known for a brief stint with the WWE in the early 2000s.After playing college football at the University of South Florida and a semi-professional arena team in Tampa Bay, Rodimer was a contestant on WWE’sTough Enoughreality competition show in 2004. He did not win, but he was offered a contract to join the company’s developmental — or minor league — wrestling organization.Rodimer’s campaign touts a photo of him holding the WWE’s “United States Championship” belt, despite having never won the title. There’s no indication or records that show he ever fought for the championship. Rodimer left the WWE after a year.
In one altercation, he was arrested for battery after an incident at a South Florida Waffle House, according to the AP. He pleaded guilty to the charge, served a six-week anger management course and expressed regret over the incident. (It was not known if Rodimer was charged in the other two instances.)Last year, the AP reported that according to police records Rodimer was the subject of two 911 calls from 2018 in connection with domestic disputes over stolen money, jewelry and guns. The domestic issue was between Rodimer and his then-girlfriend, Sarah Duffy, who is mother to their six children and now his wife.
Rodimer and Duffy told police they had an argument, but nothing physical occurred, according to the AP. No charges were filed.
Dan Rodimer.John Locher/AP/Shutterstock
In total, 11 Republicans, 10 Democratic candidates one independent and one Libertarian are running in the May 1 special election.According toPolitico, the open election means a single candidate will need to earn more than 50 percent of the vote to win or it will move to a run-off, which would be scheduled for later this year.
source: people.com
