Florida Chamber of Commerce Endorses 60 Pro-Business, Pro-Jobs Candidates for the Florida House and Senate
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 7, 2018)— The Florida Chamber of Commerce today made its first-round of 2018 candidate endorsements in competitive races for the Florida House and Senate.
Today’s 60 endorsements are part of a larger Florida Chamber effort to help elect pro-jobs, pro-business candidates that support private-sector job creation and economic growth. Additional rounds of House and Senate endorsements are expected in the coming months.
“Electing pro-jobs, free-enterprise focused candidates to office can and does make a difference for Florida’s families and businesses,” said MARIAN JOHNSON, Senior Vice President of Political Operations for the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Incumbent candidates who were endorsed today were evaluated on numerous factors, including their historical grades on the Florida Chamber’s Legislative Report Card. Additionally, the Florida Chamber Political Institute (FCPI) is currently hosting candidate interview sessions across Florida and is expected to interview more than 100 non-incumbent candidates, to identify candidates for all legislative offices.
“To secure Florida’s future, we need a legislature that focuses on free enterprise principles and job creation,” said FRANK WALKER, Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “The Florida Chamber’s thorough endorsement process sends a strong signal that Florida families and small businesses can feel confident in supporting these candidates.”
Floridians can learn more about each candidate, key election dates and polling locations by visiting www.FloridaWins.org.
The Florida Chamber’s first round of endorsements includes:
Florida Senate:
- Senator George Gainer
- Senator Aaron Bean
- Senator Keith Perry
- Senator Wilton Simpson
- Senator Dennis Baxley
- Senator Dorothy Hukill
- Senator Kelli Stargel
- Senator Jeff Brandes
- Senator Dana Young
- Senator Kathleen Passidomo
- Representative Ben Albritton
- Representative Manny Diaz Jr.
- Representative Ed Hooper
- Representative Joe Gruters
Florida House of Representatives:
- Representative Jayer Williamson
- Representative Mel Ponder
- Representative Brad Drake
- Representative Jay Trumbull
- Representative Halsey Beshears
- Representative Clay Yarborough
- Representative Jason Fischer
- Representative Cyndi Stevenson
- Representative Travis Cummings
- Representative Bobby Payne
- Representative Chuck Clemons
- Representative Charlie Stone
- Representative Stan McClain
- Representative Paul Renner
- Representative Thomas Leek
- Representative David Santiago
- Representative Scott Plakon
- Representative Robert “Bob” Cortes
- Representative Jennifer Sullivan
- Representative Ralph Massullo
- Representative Blaise Ingoglia
- Representative Amber Mariano
- Representative Danny Burgess Jr.
- Representative Colleen Burton
- Representative Sam Killebrew
- Representative Mike La Rosa
- Representative Robert “Bobby O” Olszewski
- Representative Rene “Coach P” Plasencia
- Representative Randy Fine
- Representative Cary Pigman
- Representative Jake Raburn
- Representative Lawrence McClure
- Representative Jackie Toledo
- Representative James “J.W.” Grant
- Representative Chris Sprowls
- Representative Chris Latvala
- Representative Ben Diamond
- Representative Ray Rodrigues
- Representative Dane Eagle
- Representative Byron Donalds
- Representative Rick Roth
- Representative Bob Rommel
- Representative Jose Oliva
- Representative Bryan Avila
- Representative Daniel Perez
- Representative Holly Raschein
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Established in 1916 as Florida’s first statewide business advocacy organization, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as crucial to secure Florida’s future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Florida Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit www.FLChamber.com for more information. 136 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301