Future Sen. President Wilton Simpson is putting his weight behind Republican Senate reelection efforts, funneling $100,000 from his political committee to the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee last month.
Simpson, who is in line to be Florida Senate President from 2020-2022, used his political committee, Jobs for Florida, to put $100,000 into the committee created to help elect Republican senators.
Consultant Brian Hughes, who represents the political committee, confirmed the donation to Sunshine State News Tuesday.
“I’m proud to confirm that we are the supporters of conservative causes,” he said.
“Jobs for Florida is a committee that works to support conservative causes and conservative campaigns so of course the committee has been working with the Senate [Majority] Committee to ensure keeping the Republican majority in the Florida Senate,” he told SSN.
As POLITICO reported Wednesday, the Trilby Republican isn’t the only future Senate president to donate big money to the committee.
Incoming Senate president Joe Negron, R-Stuart, also used his own political committee to push $250,000 into the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, who will take the reins of the Senate after Negron, also put $100,000 into the committee in April using his own committee, Innovate Florida.
Republican senators will face a more difficult election year than usual in 2016 as a result of newly-redrawn Senate districts. The Florida Supreme Court demanded state lawmakers redraw Senate districts last year after it was discovered that legislators had improperly gerrymandered districts to favor incumbents and Republicans.
The new districts have vast implications for several seats, which means Democrats have a higher likelihood of stealing seats from Republicans.
All 40 senators are up for reelection in November and the stakes are high.
If Republicans want to put up a fight to maintain the seats -- and the majority -- they currently have, they’ll have to spend more money in this year’s election.
As of the end of March, the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee had over $11 million in cash on hand. The committee is gearing up to move full-speed ahead in a chaotic election year with several political changeups on the horizon.
As POLITICO reported, the Florida Democratic Party is ramping up efforts to swing three seats -- one in South Florida, one in Orlando, and another in Alachua County.
Democrats are also trying to win the seat currently held by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg. Brandes’ district, District 24, is much like his current district but is now entirely in Pinellas County, which generally leans Democratic.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
