Updated 4:45 p.m.: The Republican Governor's Association's Executive Board voted Gov. Rick Scott as the group's Vice Chair Friday afternoon.
It’s good to be Gov. Rick Scott these days.
Scott has risen from a political nobody to governor, potential head of the Republican Governor’s Association to a possible Senate candidate next year, all in a whirlwind seven years.
Not only could his Florida cabinet be just the way he wants it to be in a few short months, but the two-term Republican governor is making waves on the national level as well.
On Thursday, Scott packed his bags and jet-setted to Washington, D.C., where his schedule will be jam-packed with events connected to the Republican Governors Association.
Scott, according to reports, was widely rumored to be the favorite for the RGA’s next Vice Chair, which would make him Chair of the organization in 2018.
On Friday, the 11-member Executive Committee voted to make Scott the next Vice Chair, setting him up to run the group next year.
Scott currently sits on the group’s Executive Committee alongside Govs. Doug Ducey of Arizona, Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, Greg Abbott of Texas, Bill Haslam of Tennessee, Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and Pete Rickett of Nebraska.
The RGA has a history of reeling in big fundraising bucks during elections. The unlimited-money organization more than $60.7 million last year, compared with the Democratic Governors Association’s $39 million during the same time.
The RGA has consistently outraised the DGA for the last decade and in 2016, its efforts paid off big time when the total number of Republican governors reached 33 to the Democratic Party’s 16.
The Florida governor, who is widely rumored to be running for U.S. Senate next year, will also meet with Vice President Mike Pence at a luncheon and later with President Donald Trump.
Scott had a heavy hand in Trump’s campaign last year, chairing a super PAC for the firecracker Republican candidate as well as endorsing him during the general election.
The PAC spent $22 million to help get Trump elected last November.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
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