Navarre, Fla. ( WALA ) - State Representative Dr. Joel Rudman is resigning from the Florida House of Representatives to run for the Congressional seat of Florida’s First District. The seat was left vacant after Matt Gaetz was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to fill the role of Attorney General. Gaetz has since decided to withdraw from consideration.

Rudman recently won a second term as the state representative for District 3 in last month’s general election, but due to Florida’s resign to run law he needed to resign in order to run for the vacant Congressional seat which Rudman says was a bittersweet decision.

“Quite emotional to actually resign from the Florida House because it’s such an honor but I actually referenced that in my resignation letter that I hope one of my colleagues will go back and fix that archaic law because it’s simply in the way. We shouldn’t have to resign to run.” said Dr. Joel Rudman.

“When I told my constituents of the third district of Florida that I was running for the First Congressional District I think that people realize I’m a man of my word and I kept my word today and that’s the attitude I’m going to take to Washington D.C.,” added Rudman.

According to his resignation letter, Rudman’s resignation will be effective on January 1st. The Florida Department of State announced that the Special Primary Election will take place on January 28th while the Special General Election is scheduled for April 1st.