‘Carry the torch’: Tommy Wright endorses Jake Johansson as his favored successor in SD 8

Sen. Tommy Wright just made clear who he wants to succeed him in the Senate.

The New Smyrna Beach Republican is endorsing Volusia County Council member Jake Johansson’s campaign for Senate District 8. Johansson, a Port Orange Republican, announced in December he would run for the open seat.

Wright, who cannot seek another term because of term limits, penned a letter to Johansson voicing his support.

“Jake, I am here for you now and will be here for you when the day comes to turn over the keys to the office of Senator Jake Johansson,” Wright wrote.

Wright first won election to the Senate in 2018, defeating Democrat Mel Martin after stepping in as a replacement nominee after the death of Republican Sen. Dorothy Hukill. The Senator recalled following in Hukill’s footsteps as he wrote his endorsement of Johannson.

“I am reminded of the thousands of folks that have placed their trust in me to serve and represent them as their Senator for eight years,” Wright wrote. “So, now as we all begin to prepare for the transfer of power in November of 2026, I am challenged with making the best recommendation for my successor.”

Wright has worked with numerous public officials over the course of his time in the Legislature, he said. He said he carefully considered the decision of whom to endorse before settling on Johansson.

“I feel this person will carry the torch and carry on the work and traditions I have put in place to have the most acceptable and available Senator that listens and completes the tasks that we are challenged with,” he wrote.

Johansson faces former Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff, a Deland Republican who lost a tight incumbent-on-incumbent race in 2022 against Rep. Webster Barnaby.

SD 8 leans heavily Republican. Wright last stood election there in 2022, where he won 62% of the vote over Democrat Andrea Williams. Ahead of this year’s General Election, about 42.6% of registered voters in the district were Republican, while some 27.8% were registered as Democrats.