Conservative agenda remains alive and well in Florida

If we learned anything on November 3, 2020, it was that pollsters are overpaid. Florida’s Republican party was able to retain a majority in the House and Senate despite millions of dollars coming in from other states. Additionally Congress did not make the huge gains predicted. The House of Representatives remain in Democrat control, however the Republicans did pick up five new seats while the Democrats picked up two.

On the national stage, Florida Republicans picked up two seats in the Congress with wins by Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Giminez. Congressman Charlie Crist was targeted by two excellent female candidates, but he held on as usual. The US Senate looks like it will remain in Republican control, meaning after all of the acrimony the balance of power in Washington will not change.

Regardless of who our President is after the dust settles, almost every statement by the Presidential candidates requires Congressional approval, so with a Republican Senate and Democrat House, we are guaranteed things will move painfully slow in Washington, DC over the next four years.

With no statewide offices (Governor, Attorney General) up in this election Florida’s focus was on the state House and Senate. Both have been controlled by the Republican party and they will remain just the same.

Prior to the election there were 23 Republicans and 17 Democrats. After the election there are now 24 Republicans and 16 Democrats, pending District 37 recount.

State Senate – Nine new in-coming Senators

District 3: Loranne Ausley, Tallahassee (D)

District 5: Jennifer Bradley, Jacksonville (R)

District 9: Jason Brodeur, Sanford (R)

District 21: Jim Boyd, Bradenton (R)

District 27: Ray Rodrigues, Estero (R)

District 29: Tina Polsky, Boca Raton (D)

District 35: Shevrin Jones, West Park (D)

District 37: Recount of Ileana Garcia “new” (R – 48.53%) and Jose Javier Rodriguez (D – 48.52%)

District 39: Anna Maria Rodriguez (R)

FLORIDA HOUSE: Republicans gained 5 seats with 2 race pending

Every House seat was up for election this year. Prior to the election there were 73 Republicans and 47 Democrats. After the election there are now 78 Republicans and 42 Democrats, with two races (District 42 and District 59) pending.

State House – 37 new in-coming Representatives

District 1: Michelle Salzman, Pensacola (R)

District 4: Patt Maney, Shalimar (R)

District 9: Allison Tant, Tallahassee (D)

District 18: Sam Garrison, Orange Park (R)

District 20: Yvonne Hayes Hinson, Gainesville (D)

District 22: Joe Harding, Williston (R)

District 27: Webster Barnaby, Deltona (R)

District 31: Keith Truenow, Tavares (R)

District 42: Fred Hawkins, Saint Cloud (R)

District 43: Kristen Arrington, Kissimmee (D)

District 46: Travaris McCurdy, Orlando (D)

District 48: Daisy Morales,Orlando (D)

District 55: Kaylee Tuck, Sebring (R)

District 59: Andrew Learned, Brandon (D)

District 64: Traci Koster, Tampa (R)

District 69: Linda Chaney, St. Petersburg (R)

District 70: Michele Rayner, Saint Petersburg (D)

District 72: Fiona McFarland, Venice (R)

District 76: Adam Botana, Bonita Springs (R)

District 77: Mike Giallombardo, Cape Coral (R)

District 78: Jenna Persons, Fort Myers (R)

District 80: Lauren Melo, Naples (R)

District 81: Kelly Skidmore, Boca Raton (D)

District 82: John Snyder, Palm City (R)

District 84: Dana Trabulsy, Fort Pierce (R)

District 88: Omari Hardy, Lake Worth Beach (D)

District 96: Christine Hunschofsky, Parkland (D)

District 101: Marie Woodson, Pembroke Pines (D)

District 102: Felicia Robinson, Miami Gardens (D)

District 103: Tom Fabricio, Miramar (R)

District 104: Robin Bartleman, Weston (D)

District 105: David Borrero, Miami (R)

District 107: Christopher Benjamin, Miami Gardens (D)

District 110: Alex Rizo, Coral Gables (R)

District 114: Demi Busatta Cabrera, Coral Gables (R)

District 117: Kevin Chambliss, Homestead (D)

District 120: Jim Mooney, Islamorada (R)

FADA was active in 14 Senate races and invested $61,500 with new candidates and seated incumbents. On the House side we invested $122,000 in 56 races. Our won/loss ratio was impeccable with only one primary loss and two in the general election races.

More importantly we supported incumbent leaders in the Florida House and Senate with $473,000. We are fortunate to enjoy great relationships with incoming House Speaker Chris Sprowls, incoming Senate President Wilton Simpson and their leadership teams.

The 2021 Session begins committee meetings in January and February. FADA will be very active in the weeks leading up to the first day of the Session, March 2, 2021.

Largely uninformed and uneducated voters were asked to vote on six proposed amendments to the state constitution. Everything from Florida’s minimum wage to how to handle partisan primary elections were up for grabs. These amendments needed to reach at least 60% voter approval in order to be adopted, and four will meet that threshold: Amendments 1, 2, 5 and 6.

These reinforce citizenship requirements in order to vote; raise the state minimum wage to $15/hour; extend the period Floridians have to transfer Save Our Homes benefits to a new property; and allow a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran.

The two amendments which failed to garner 60% support were proposals that would have implemented ranked-choice voting; and required voters to approve future constitutional amendments twice. This final amendment was important in stemming the tide against future ballot initiatives.