The Florida Chamber of Commerce released its first round of legislative endorsements Thursday, backing more than 80 candidates running for state legislative seats in a slate dominated by incumbent Republicans.
The Chamber said the endorsements are largely based on how each lawmaker scored on the organization’s annual Legislative Report Card, which tracks votes on issues affecting the state’s business community.
“The Florida Chamber has a long and proven track record of endorsing and electing candidates who stand for the pro-jobs policies necessary to continue Florida’s momentum towards a top 10 global economy,” Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson said in a news release.
“We trust these proven incumbent and former legislators to continue to make Florida’s future a priority by focusing on job creation and further economic opportunity for all Florida families and local businesses.”
The Senate endorsements include 14 candidates, all Republicans except for Democratic Sen. Mack Bernard of Palm Beach County. While the bulk are incumbents, the Chamber also endorsed former Rep. Josie Tomkow’s re-do campaign in Senate District 14 as well as Reps. James Buchanan’s and Lauren Melo’s bids to upgrade to the Senate.
In the House, the Chamber’s support again went overwhelmingly to Republican incumbents, including Speaker-designate Sam Garrison and Jennifer Canady, who is in line to succeed Garrison as Speaker. The group also endorsed Democratic Reps. Gallop Franklin, Kim Kendall, Jervonte Edmonds and Rob Long, all of whom have earned relatively strong Legislative Report Card scores during their time in office.
The Chamber didn’t weigh in on contested races for open seats but said additional endorsements will drop as Election Day draws nearer. The organization vowed to put “its full 100-plus years of combined political experience” into getting its favored candidates elected.
The full endorsement list is below.
Senate:
SD 2: Sen. Jay Trumbull
SD 4: Sen. Clay Yarborough
SD 6: Sen. Jennifer Bradley
SD 10: Sen. Jason Brodeur
SD 12: Sen. Colleen Burton
SD 14: former Rep. Josie Tomkow
SD 18: Sen. Nick DiCeglie
SD 20: Senate President Designate Jim Boyd
SD 22: Rep. James Buchanan
SD 24: Sen. Mack Bernard
SD 28: Rep. Lauren Melo
SD 36: Sen. Ileana Garcia
SD 38: Sen. Alexis Calatayud
SD 40: Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez
House:
HD 1: Rep. Michelle Salzman
HD 3: Rep. Nathan Boyles
HD 4: Rep. Patt Maney
HD 5: Rep. Shane Abbott
HD 7: Rep. Jason Shoaf
HD 8: Rep. Gallop Franklin
HD 11: Speaker Designate Sam Garrison
HD 15: Rep. Dean Black
HD 16: Rep. Kiyan Michael
HD 17: Rep. Jessica Baker
HD 18: Rep. Kim Kendall
HD 19: Rep. Sam Greco
HD 20: Rep. Judson Sapp
HD 22: Rep. Chad Johnson
HD 23: Rep. J.J. Grow
HD 24: Rep. Ryan Chamberlin
HD 25: Rep. Taylor Yarkosky
HD 26: Rep. Nan Cobb
HD 27: Rep. Richard Gentry
HD 28: Rep. Bill Partington
HD 29: Rep. Webster Barnaby
HD 30: Rep. Chase Tramont
HD 32: Rep. Brian Hodgers
HD 33: Rep. Monique Miller
HD 34: Rep. Robert Brackett
HD 35: Rep. Erika Booth
HD 36: Rep. Rachel Plakon
HD 39: Rep. Doug Bankson
HD 48: Rep. Jon Albert
HD 49: Rep. Jennifer Kincart Jonsson
HD 50: Rep. Jennifer Canady
HD 51: Rep. Hilary Holley
HD 52: Rep. Samantha Scott
HD 54: Rep. Randy Maggard
HD 56: Rep. Brad Yeager
HD 57: Rep. Adam Anderson
HD 58: Rep. Kimberly “Kim” Berfield
HD 59: Rep. Berny Jacques
HD 61: Rep. Linda Chaney
HD 65: Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman
HD 66: Rep. Traci Koster
HD 69: Rep. Daniel “Danny” Alvarez
HD 70: Rep. Michael Owen
HD 72: Rep. William “Bill” Conerly
HD 73: Rep. Fiona McFarland
HD 75: Rep. Danny Nix
HD 76: Rep. Vanessa Oliver
HD 77: Rep. Tiffany Esposito
HD 79: Rep. Mike Giallombardo
HD 80: Rep. Adam Botana
HD 81: Rep. Yvette Benarroch
HD 83: Rep. Kaylee Tuck
HD 84: Rep. Dana Trabulsy
HD 86: Rep. John Snyder
HD 88: Rep. Jervonte “Tae” Edmonds
HD 90: Rep. Rob Long
HD 91: Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman
HD 93: Rep. Anne Gerwig
HD 94: Rep. Meg Weinberger
HD 106: Rep. Fabian Basabe
HD 110: Rep. Tom Fabricio
HD 111: Rep. David Borrero
HD 112: Rep. Alex Rizo
HD 114: Rep. Demi Busatta
HD 115: Rep. Omar Blanco
HD 119: Rep. Juan Carlos Porras
HD 120: Rep. James Vernon “Jim” Mooney, Jr.