LAKE WALES, Fla. – Mayor Jack Hilligoss, who is also the senior pastor of HighPoint Church in Lake Wales, endorsed James Judge in the Republican primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, the Judge campaign announced Thursday.
“James and I met last year, and as I have gotten to know him, it is clear to me that he is a man of principle and is driven by a Biblical worldview,” said Hilligoss. “Our government desperately needs leaders who not only believe in Biblical values, but who also fear the Lord and know that they will eventually give an account of their actions when they kneel before God, as all mankind will. I believe James has those values and that mindset, and I strongly encourage the voters of Florida’s 15th Congressional District to support and get behind his campaign.”
James thanked Hilligoss for his endorsement.
“I am blessed to be able to say that Pastor Jack has become a friend and mentor. Lake Wales is better because of Jack’s leadership and the work that the Lord is doing through HighPoint Church. Quite frankly, we need a lot more pastors like Jack,” said Judge. “Just like the Black Robed Regiment during America’s fight for independence, we need more pastors to step up and get involved in politics today.”
Hilligoss joins a growing list of strong conservative endorsements Judge has picked up since he answered President Donald Trump’s call for a MAGA conservative to challenge Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL) in March.
Just last week, Roger Stone, a top advisor to Trump and longtime Republican strategist who has worked for nearly every Republican president since Richard Nixon, endorsed Judge.
Additionally, the national Republican Liberty Caucus, former Congressman Steve King (R-IA), former Congressman Ted Yoho (R-FL), Tampa’s conservative grassroots group Community Patriots, and Born to Ride for 45, a national motorcycle riding club with 6,000 members, have all endorsed Judge since he launched his race against Lee in March.
“In less than a year-and-a-half, Rep. Lee has demonstrated through her actions in office that she effectively votes in line with the Democrats, which is why I believe President Trump called for her removal,” said Judge. “She is not only funded by enemies of traditional Christian and conservative values, but she has also voted in favor of forcing our military servicemembers to endure indoctrination, which promotes diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and LGBT ideology. Furthermore, she also recently sponsored legislation supporting FISA and continuing warrantless searches of Americans. This is unacceptable for any Republican.”
According to a recent review of political contributions tracked by the Federal Election Commission, Lee has accepted hundreds of special interest contributions in her short stint as a Congresswoman, including taking funding from disgraced former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Meta, Facebook’s parent company, and Google, which Judge says, have a proven track record of opposing traditional conservative values.
Contrary to Lee, Judge says he is running to reduce federal spending, balance the budget, secure the border and restore law-and-order.
About James Judge:
James Judge, a Florida native, graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg and served in the U.S. Coast Guard in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, he served in Kabul, Afghanistan as a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense from 2010 until 2011. He now owns Judge Public Relations, a Tampa-based public relations, marketing and consulting firm. Judge is married to his wife Danielle, who is also a small business owner. The Judges live on a ranch in Dade City, with their dogs, cats, chickens, cows, goats and horses. Judge is a proud member of the NRA, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. The Judges are also longtime, active members at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz.