Entertainment

‘Modern Family’ star’s boyfriend may enter Senate race in Florida

Alec Jacobs Contributor
Font Size:

Nick Loeb, boyfriend of “Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara, is already one of the luckiest men on the planet. Now he’s hoping that luck will extend to a win in the 2012 race for Florida Democrat Bill Nelson’s U.S. Senate seat.

Loeb, a Republican businessman, ran for the Florida state Senate in 2009 before he ultimately dropped out of the race to deal with a divorce. (Sitcom sex symbol: Sofia Vergara [SLIDESHOW])

He may be ready to re-enter the political arena now. When news broke this week that Florida’s state Senate president, a Republican, was dropping out of the race against Nelson, Loeb’s ears perked up. Loeb tells Roll Call he’s considering entering the crowded field of Republican candidates “even more seriously” now.

Loeb says he’s “moderate on some issues and very conservative on others.” One area where he could face trouble with conservatives: environmental issues. He owns an environmental consulting firm and is a staunch advocate for conservation. But he isn’t making any apologies.

“I believe in conservation, which is, at its root from being a conservative, as a Teddy Roosevelt Republican. I believe it’s a national security issue, having fresh air and clean water,” he told Roll Call.

Some in Florida aren’t taking his candidacy seriously, however. Chris Ingram, a Republican consultant based in Florida, said Loeb was “a glorified playboy who’s got a famous girlfriend and is getting more attention for that than anything else.”

Loeb disagrees. “How serious am I? Listen, I’m a serious businessman. I was very serious when I ran before for the state Senate. I raised almost $300,000 in the first quarter and that’s with a $500 [contribution] limit,” he said.

Loeb, the son of Ronald Reagan’s ambassador to Denmark, joins other big names in the Republican primary that Floridians know well. They include former Sen. George LeMieux, former Florida House Majority leader Adam Hasner, and Craig Miller, the former CEO of Ruth’s Chris Steak House.