The seat became vacant after Foley's sudden resignation on September 29, 2006, after it became public that he had sent inappropriate emails to male teenage former congressional pages.[9] Foley's resignation occurred too late under Florida law to take his name off the ballot. Therefore, Foley's name remained on the ballot, but votes cast for him went to his replacement, State RepresentativeJoe Negron, who would have been duly elected had Foley won the November 7, 2006 election.[10] Since Mahoney won the election, the question did not arise.[11]
Incumbent Tim Mahoney ran for reelection in 2008. His opponent was Tom Rooney, a former JAG officer, Special Assistant United States Attorney, and professor at the United States Military Academy. Rooney is also the grandson of the founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Mahoney was initially favored, after the scandal involving his mistress, the race shifted toward "likely Republican" on the Cook Political Report.
^
See whole Florida state map for 2013, with the 16th district in
Manatee County and Sarasota County, Florida:
h9047_35x42L.pdfCongressional Plan: H000C9047. Chapter No. 2012-2, Laws of Florida.
www.flsenate.gov. February 16, 2012.
^
See 2013 borders of 16th district in the 2013 districts map:
H000C9047_map_sw.pdf,
for the southwest region of Florida.
Congressional Plan: H000C9047. Chapter No. 2012-2, Laws of Florida.
www.flsenate.gov. February 2012.