Joe Garcia Jumps Into Race For David Rivera's Seat

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Twice before, Democrat Joe Garcia has run for congress. Twice before, South Florida voters said no thanks. Could the third time be the charm? Garcia thinks so, announcing Monday he will run for the 26th district congressional seat how held by David Rivera, the man who beat him in the last election.

Garcia, an attorney who once chaired the Florida Public Service Commission and served as executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation, said Monday he was running because Rivera can't do his job representing the people while under investigation for the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service for alleged financial irregularities.

GARCIA CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT

Rivera was also under  investigation by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office for allegedly misusing campaign funds, an investigation abandoned when prosecutors encountered problems with the statute of limitations and loopholes in campaign finance law that made it impossible to prove Rivera had broken any law.

Garcia will not immediately face Rivera. First, he has a date in the August primary with fellow democrat and first-time candidate Gloria Romero Roses, a Southwest Ranches businesswoman.

Roses was recruited by Democrats after the first person who filed to challenge Rivera, state Rep. Luis Garcia, lost the confidence of party leaders who didn't feel he could beat Rivera. He dropped out of the race, said he would leave the party, and is now running for Miami-Dade County Commission.

Other lesser known candidates have said they would run, but the true race will be between Roses and Garcia. Garcia must overcome a losing history and convince party contributors he has what it takes to beat Rivera, even though he lost to Rivera by 10 points less than 2 years ago.

He must also overcome the support party officials promised Roses when they invited her to run.

Rivera, who is seen by many as political damaged goods, has received the support of long-time friend and tea-party darling Marco Rubio.

Garcia is expected to hold a news conference in Miami Tuesday to make his announcement official.