TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — The past two legislative sessions were often marked by clashes between Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican leaders in the state House and Senate leadership.
Despite holding a supermajority in both chambers, Republicans sparred over the budget, special sessions, and major policy priorities.
With Florida voters set to head to the polls in a matter of weeks, the question now is whether that dynamic could change next year.
The election will bring a mix of new and seasoned state lawmakers to Tallahassee, as well as a new governor.
Republicans are hoping to hold their supermajority, but the relationship between the executive branch and legislative leaders could look different depending on who wins the governor’s race.
“We have the biggest supermajority in the Florida House right now, but the biggest supermajority is probably not the best,” Governor DeSantis said at the Republican Party of Florida Leadership Forum following the August primaries.
DeSantis found himself in the mix of political standoffs as both chambers clashed over the spending priorities and key policy proposals championed by the Governor.
Republicans now say they hope to put that in the past and move on.”My mission is to continue to build on the success of Governor Ron DeSantis,” U.S. Representative Byron Donalds said.
Republican candidate for governor congressman Donald’s says while he plans to continue DeSantis’ agenda, he believes if elected there could be stronger partnership due to his existing relationship with incoming legislative leaders.
“I’ve served with Jim Boyd, who’s going to be the incoming Senate President,” Donalds said. “He and I served together when I was in the Florida House. Sam Grrison, the new Speaker of the House, we’ve had an opportunity to speak and have dialogue. But the way I’ve always conducted myself, I have an open-door policy. I speak to everybody. Whether we agree or disagree, it’s important to have those dialogues.”
His opponent, Democrat David Jolly, said he would pursue democratic priorities while seeking common ground with republicans.
“I think there’s going to be an opportunity for Gwen and I to work with a republican legislature in a way that we really can’t foresee right now because we are trapped by supermajority and partisanship in Tallahassee,” Jolly said.
But if lawmakers put up a fight or try to block his policies, Jolly says he plans to use his executive power to push back.
“Our current governor is a Republican and has a republican supermajority,” Jolly said. “And I’m not sure we can look at the last couple of years and suggest that our current governor and legislature have worked out well together. In fact, if anything, we almost had a government shutdown.”No matter who wins the governor’s race, tensions could be changing at the capitol next session. And whether that will be for better or for worse has yet to be seen.
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