The race is on to send Republicans to the White House, Capitol Hill, and the state legislature for the Republican Party of Florida, which announced the party-building Florida Leadership Victory Committee Thursday afternoon.
The Florida Leadership Victory Committee, which will work to elect Republicans up and down the ballot, will be comprised of three co-chairs, all of whom are some of the top elected officials in Florida.
Lieutenant Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will all co-chair the committee, which will help get voters to the polls and vote red this November.
Florida, a notoriously “purple” state, is one of the nation’s most important swing states for the presidential election. Recent polling has suggested GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump is struggling in Florida, with Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton up by nine points at 48 percent to Trump’s 38 percent.
RPOF Chairman Blaise Ingoglia said Republican victory has always been the party’s top priority, and pledged the committee will do all in its capacity to bring success to the Republican Party.
“It has always been our objective that Republicans up and down the ballot have success come November,” Ingoglia said. “As a battleground state, the Republican Party of Florida is spending its time and resources supporting candidates that stand for conservative principles that will reverse the course of President Obama’s failed agenda. For the Sunshine State, this election is about keeping Hillary Clinton out of the oval office by delivering Florida's 29 electoral votes to the Republican nominee and restoring prosperity to our country."
The committee will undoubtedly focus on electing Republicans at the state and federal level, like U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and other congressmen, but the state’s role in the presidential election will be one of the heaviest focuses over the next few months.
Florida’s role in the presidential election has seemed muddled recently. On Thursday, reports of tension between Florida Gov. Rick Scott and team Trump emerged, suggesting the governor is having issues with the controversial candidate’s campaign team.
Scott apparently became frustrated and clashed with Trump Florida’s state director Karen Giorino and is now honing his focus on raising money for the pro-Trump super PAC Rebuild America Now instead of the Trump campaign itself.
Co-chairs of the committee, however, seemed to focus on different potential areas where the party could win, from the Senate, to the Supreme Court and the economy.
“Our nation’s economy hinges on this year’s election,” said CFO Atwater. “We must all work to maintain Republican majorities at the local, state and federal level, and the grassroots effort here in Florida will be crucial. Florida is a key battleground state, and the committee is devoted to providing the resources necessary for a strong victory in November.”
Committee members acknowledge the stakes are high, and there’s little room for failure. Much of their effort will rely on voter registration and getting Republicans to the polls.
“It all comes down to Florida,” said Commissioner Putnam. “ We need to elect principled conservatives now more than ever, and that is why we must work for Republican victories up and down the ballot. These races are too important to take for granted, and Florida and America's futures depend on it.”
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
