Former Florida GOP Candidate Sentenced 3 Years for Threatening Rival

William Robert Braddock III, a former Republican candidate for Florida's 13th Congressional District, was sentenced to three years in federal prison for threatening to have his primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, killed by a "Russian-Ukrainian hit squad" during the 2021 primary race. Braddock made the threat during a phone call and subsequently disparaged Luna over several months while viewing her as his main obstacle to winning the election. After his campaign ended, Braddock fled the U.S., traveling to Thailand and later the Philippines, where he surrendered to authorities in 2023 and was extradited back to the United States. Despite the severity of the threat, investigators found no evidence that Braddock had any contacts with foreign crime groups or took actual steps to carry out the plot. Luna went on to win both the primary and general elections and was re-elected last year. The case highlights the extreme tactics some political candidates may resort to and underscores the seriousness of threats of violence in political contests.