The Democratic candidate for Florida’s 17th Congressional District has died from an apparent heart attack, according to her family.
April Freeman’s husband, David Freeman, wrote Monday on her Facebook page that his wife “passed away suddenly” Sunday night.
“It appears that she was having a heart attack,” he told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
April Freeman, 54, was competing against state Sen. Greg Steube, the Republican candidate vying to represent the district after incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Rooney announced in February he would not seek re-election.
Steube will likely face a Democratic challenger named by a committee comprised of representatives from counties that fall within the district’s borders, ABC News-affiliate WWSB reported.
A spokeswoman for Florida’s Department of State told the Washington Examiner Freeman’s name will remain on the ballot ahead of November’s election.
“The Democratic Party will have the opportunity to designate a nominee to fill the vacancy,” the spokeswoman said. “A notice will be provided to voters indicating that a vote for the former party nominee will be counted for the person designated by the political party to replace the former party nominee.”
Freeman, who worked in film and television before entering politics, is survived by her husband David, their two children, and their two grandchildren.
