Florida Republican delegates will descend upon Cleveland later this month for the Republican National Convention and the party has planned a full schedule of events for the three days the 99 delegates and 96 alternates will be in Ohio.
The Republican Party of Florida finalized its delegates at its spring quarterly meeting in May.
The delegate list includes RPOF chair Blaise Ingoglia, RNC Chair Sharon Day, and state committeeman Peter Feaman are automatic delegates. Fifteen at-large delegates and 81 remaining delegates from each of Florida’s congressional districts round out the delegates from the Sunshine State.
The at-large delegate list includes politicians, lobbyists and some friends of presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump. Former RPOF chair Lenny Curry, Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers and Senate President-designate Joe Negron, R-Stuart, will all be at-large delegates at the 2016 RNC.
Delegates will be staying at the Embassy Suites Hotel Cleveland-Rockside, which is almost 10 miles south of downtown Cleveland. A secondary hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Cleveland Independence, has also been assigned to the Florida delegation.
Beginning July 18, delegates will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities while in Cleveland.
House Speaker-designate and at-large delegate Richard Corcoran will host one of the first events, a breakfast buffet and speaker series with political consultant and pollster Frank Luntz. Corcoran will host several other breakfast buffet and speaker series throughout the convention.
Delegates will then head to Cleveland’s famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for a private tour. The event will feature cocktails, appetizers and access to the museum’s newest exhibit “Louder Than Words: Rock, Power and Politics,” which talks about music’s role in significant political events in recent years.
On July 19, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam will hold a “Florida Grown” breakfast.
Delegates will join other southern state delegations later that day, celebrating the RNC with a game day-style tailgate, which will include a live name band, tailgate food, craft beer and other tailgate activities.
Delegates will party into the late hours of the evening with the Arizona delegation for the Red, White and Brew reception which will be held at Nano Brew in Cleveland’s trendy Ohio City neighborhood.
On Wednesday, delegates will have the entire day to explore Cleveland.
Delegates will participate in a pre-session rally at FWD Day + Night Club on Thursday, July 21, the last day of the convention. FWD is a “premier pool club” with cabanas and a dance floor overlooking Flats East Bank.
On Friday, delegates will head home.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
