Senate Republican leaders are supporting Rep. James Buchanan’s campaign in Senate District 22.
Senate President Ben Albritton and Sens. Jim Boyd and Jay Trumbull are endorsing the Sarasota Republican, to date the only candidate[1] running to succeed Sen. Jay Gruters.
“As a father of three young children, James is personally invested in Florida’s future and committed to keeping our communities safe and our economy strong. He has been a consistent voice for the most vulnerable Floridians with developmental disabilities and their families,” the three GOP leaders said in a statement released by the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee (FRSCC[2]).
“We are proud to endorse James Buchanan for the Florida Senate and look forward to welcoming his brand of proven, results-driven leadership to the Chamber next Fall.”
Albritton, a Wauchula Republican, currently leads the GOP caucus in the Senate.
Boyd is expected to be named Senate President-designate at a caucus meeting next month[3], when he will officially take over as Chair of the FRSCC. That means he will begin as Senate President in November 2026 as long as Republicans maintain a majority in the chamber.
Trumbull, a Panama City Republican, is next in line to be presiding officer of the Senate should the GOP hold its majority in 2028. If Republicans hold onto Gruters’ seat in 2026 — a likelihood based on the district’s partisan makeup — the seat would remain in the GOP column until 2030.
The FRSCC’s support in recent election cycles has strongly influenced who wins Republican nominations in open Senate contests.
Buchanan has already had largely lined up critical support for the seat. Gruters, a Sarasota Republican who faces term limits next year, already endorsed Buchanan as his preferred successor[4]. That holds significant weight considering Gruters just won election as Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair[5].
Should Gruters leave his seat early to focus on RNC duties, the FRSCC endorsement could also loom large in a Special Election.
Also important, Rep. Fiona McFarland, the only other sitting lawmaker living in Senate District 22, said she will run for re-election to the House next year and endorsed Buchanan[6] for the Senate seat.
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References
- ^ only candidate (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ FRSCC (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ next month (floridaphoenix.com)
- ^ preferred successor (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ endorsed Buchanan (floridapolitics.com)