[1] Following incumbent State Representative Cynthia M. Chestnut's inability to seek re-election, Jennings ran to succeed her in the 23rd District, which stretched from Gainesville to Ocala.

[3] In the general election, Jennings faced Dick Williams, a registered Democrat running as a No Party Affiliation candidate who served as the president of the local chapter of the AARP.

Jennings continued to campaign on his proposal to reduce poverty by making investments in the area's infrastructure, and noted that his development company had built low-cost housing units in the eastern part of the district.

He was opposed by Libertarian Brooks Nelson, a chemical analyst and the son of Dunedin Mayor Janet Henderson, who raised no money and didn't extensively campaign for the seat.

[10] Jennings campaigned on his experience and pro-family record in the legislature, his plan to provide health insurance to the uninsured through a private-public partnership,[10] and his opposition to abortion restrictions.

[16] Then-HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said, "Today, we need to have people on our senior management team who have the experience to get the job done and I have no doubt, Ed Jennings is just such a person.