Scott Powers- Bob Cortes
- Central Florida
- david santiago
- Dean Asher
- Debbie Mayfield
- Dennis Baxley
- Dorothy Hukill
- endorsement
- Gayhle Harrell
- incumbents
- Jason Brodeur
- Jennifer Sullivan
- Joe Negron
- MaryLynn Magar
- Mike La Rosa
- Mike Miller
- National Federation of Independent Businesses
- NFIB/Florida
- Peter Vivaldi
- Randy Fine
- Rene Plasencia
- Republicans
- Ritch Workman
- Scot Plakon
- state House races
- state Senate races
- Sykes Lange
- Tom Goodson
The National Federation of Independent Business announced its endorsements in Central Florida’s Florida House and Senate races Thursday, backing all Republicans, and all incumbents.
However, the group, which is Florida’s largest small-business association, did not offer endorsements in all races.
The NFIB endorsed Dean Asher in Senate District 13. Asher has won the nomination and is waiting for a Democrat to emerge from the Aug. 30 primary, Mike Clelland, Linda Stewart or Rick Roach, to battle for the seat being vacated by Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner.
The group also backed incumbents state Sens. Dorothy Hukill in SD 14, and Joe Negron, the incoming Senate president, in SD 25, along with state Reps. Dennis Baxley in SD 12 and Ritch Workman in SD 17. Baxley and Workman both are in three-way Republican primaries, with Workman facing state Rep. Debbie Mayfield in SD 17.
The group did not make an endorsement in SD 15, where Republican nominee Peter Vivaldi is trying to win a seat now held by Democrats.
In Central Florida House races, The NFIB endorsed state Reps. David Santiago in HD 27, Jason Brodeur in HD 28, Scott Plakon in HD 29, Bob Cortes in HD 30, Jennifer Sullivan in HD 31, Mike La Rosa in HD 42, Mike Miller in HD 47, Rene Plasencia in HD 50, Tom Goodson in HD 51, MaryLynn Magar in HD 82 and Gayle Harrell in HD 83, along with Randy Fine in HD 53 and Sykes Lange in HD 54.
Sullivan, Plasencia, Goodson and Lange have Republican primary opponents on Aug. 30.
“Small business owners are facing huge workers compensation hikes from bad Florida Supreme Court opinions. Electing a pro-small business Legislature has never been more important,” Bill Herrle, NFIB/Florida executive director, stated in a news release. “The endorsed candidates have demonstrated that they genuinely understand the challenges that small business owners in Florida are facing.”
