Florida Senate President Ben Albritton is under observation at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare after experiencing chest pain, a spokesperson said Jan. 26.
The 57-year-old Wauchula Republican went to the hospital Jan. 25; emergency department physicians discovered a small blood clot in his lung, according to Senate spokesperson Katherine Betta.
Albritton, who is serving his second year as the chamber’s president, remained at the hospital under observation and was awaiting further testing.
Senate President Ben Albritton calls to order the senate during the opening day of the Florida legislative session on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
Lawmakers are fast approaching the midpoint of the 2026 legislative session, with the state budget remaining to be negotiated with the House.
Betta said all scheduled Senate business for the week will proceed as planned.
Albritton is in “good spirits” and in frequent communication with staff by phone and email. His second in command is Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur, R-Orlando.
Albritton, first elected to the Legislature in 2010, is expected to return to the Senate later this week. The 2026 session is scheduled to end March 13.
James Call writes for the Tallahassee Democrat and can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com and is on X as @CallTallahassee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Senate President Ben Albritton hospitalized