Florida's Republican Legislature Rebels Against Governor DeSantis – JP
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Doral, Florida – At the beginning of last year, approximately 90% of Republican legislators in Florida endorsed the Presidential campaign of Governor DeSantis. Republicans hold a super-majority in each chamber of the legislature. This endorsement showed their opposition to the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, which prevailed with a crushing victory over DeSantis in the Iowa caucuses around a year ago. Since then, Governor DeSantis has mostly lined up behind President Trump, but now most of those legislators have rebelled against the Governor.
This year the Governor called for a special legislative session to consider immigration enforcement and election integrity measures. In response, Senate President Albritton and House Speaker Perez labeled the Governor’s call “premature.” They gaveled in and out, inside a couple of minutes, his special session, and instead gaveled in their own special session. There they passed their own bill, which was weak on immigration enforcement and also on election integrity.
The biggest surprise in the legislature’s bill, however, is that as Chief Enforcement Officer, they designated not the Governor or any member of his administration, but Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. Simpson has a track record of being weak on immigration enforcement (representing agricultural interests) and non-existent on election integrity. He also authored the Red Flag anti-gun legislature when he was a State Senator. However, he has an interest in running for governor next year. In effect, the legislative leaders endorsed Simpson for governor next year!
They have followed up this endorsement by opposing the Governor at every turn, and calling out his lame-duck status because he is term limited. For example, the legislative leaders have opposed the governor’s call for the elimination of property taxes. Instead, the House Speaker has called for the reduction of sales taxes, and the Senate President has called for no tax cuts at all.
The Governor needs to counter-punch against the legislature, and a good first step would be to name former Speaker Jose Oliva, a Hialeah Republican and a libertarian-conservative, as his Lieutenant Governor and leader of his opposition to the legislature. The Florida state legislature is very much a top-down operation, so individual legislators are very unlikely to rebel against their leadership. In fact, some individual legislators are taking on the Governor on their own.
Representative Juan Carlos Porras (R-119th District) is a 27-year old serving his second term in the legislature. This week he went on Spanish-language television to ridicule the Governor for his tax proposals, and to mock his lame-duck status.
Next Year’s Governor Race
As a result of their legislative actions this year, the Senate President and House Speaker have, in effect, endorsed the Agriculture Commissioner for governor next year. Simpson, however, is not popular at all and would have a hard time winning the Republican nomination.
Governor DeSantis, for his part, appears to be on the verge of supporting his wife Casey as his successor. She reminds us of other political wives who have succeeded their husbands, like Cornelia Wallace in Alabama, and Cristina Kirchner and Isabel Peron in Argentina. In addition, she is hugely popular. Governor DeSantis makes the case that his wife has participated in, and contributed to, all his victories in Florida, so she would be best placed to continue his winning streak.
Another Republican candidate already declared, and who is also hugely popular, is Congressman Byron Donalds, who has been endorsed by President Trump. Byron has a great grasp of economic issues, as demonstrated on Fox Business with Varney and Kudlow. Nevertheless, questions have been raised regarding his past positions on: (1) Trayvon Martin; (2). George Floyd; (3) the theft of the 2020 presidential election; (4) the fate of J6’ers after the Capitol riot; and (5) the effectiveness of vaccines.
A Democrat candidate is probably not viable, so Democrat mega-donor and head of the world’s largest injury law firm, John Morgan, proposes to run himself on a third-party ticket. However, he may not need to be elected governor in order to exercise similar power with the legislature. For example, in this legislative session Morgan is watching all his legislative priorities being advanced by the House Speaker and his minions.
During the late XIXth century, German Chancellor Bismarck observed that the legislative process was like making sausages, and little has changed since then. If you are concerned, a fellow Floridian has provided you below with two sample letters to legislators that you may want to send.
1. Speaker Danny Perez:
[email protected]
Subject: A Call for Leadership and Unity in the Florida House
Dear Speaker Perez,
With Republican supermajorities in both chambers of the Florida Legislature and strong voter support for Governor Ron DeSantis, the current political landscape represents an unprecedented opportunity to deliver lasting conservative reform. This moment calls for disciplined leadership, mutual respect, and a clear focus on the priorities of the people of Florida.
Instead, what many voters are seeing is internal division, power struggles, and a breakdown in unity between legislative leaders and the Governor’s office. These distractions not only delay meaningful progress, but also risk eroding the public’s trust in the very leaders they elected to serve them.
Governor DeSantis has proposed bold policies—such as the elimination of property taxes—that speak directly to conservative principles like limited government, fiscal responsibility, and empowering families. Rather than treating such proposals with the seriousness they deserve, many in the legislature appear more focused on political maneuvering and preserving influence. Increasingly, constituents are concerned that elected officials are prioritizing lobbyists and special interests over the needs of everyday Floridians.
The perception that some Republican lawmakers are beginning to behave more like Democrats in disguise—resisting reform, obstructing leadership, and turning public service into personal politics—is deeply troubling. It threatens to squander the incredible opportunity that a Republican supermajority offers.
As Speaker of the House, you are in a unique position to set the tone for unity and a return to results-driven, principle-focused governance. Florida voters are calling for mature, responsible leadership—not division and discord.
We urge you to lead by example, and to ensure that the Legislature reflects the values, discipline, and accountability that Florida’s conservative voters overwhelmingly supported at the ballot box.
The people are watching, and they expect better!
Sincerely,
A Concerned Floridian
[Add Your name and town]
2. Rep Juan Carlos Porras:
[email protected]
Subject: Leadership Requires Civility and Unity
Dear Representative Porras,
Florida voters have entrusted Republican leadership with historic supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature, as well as continued support for Governor Ron DeSantis. This level of confidence comes with a clear expectation: that elected officials will work together to advance meaningful, conservative reforms that benefit all Floridians.
Governor DeSantis has introduced bold proposals—such as the potential elimination of property taxes—that align with the principles of fiscal responsibility and limited government. These ideas deserve serious, good-faith discussion—not dismissal or personal attacks.
Unfortunately, recent comments you made on Spanish-language television appeared to move beyond respectful disagreement and into the realm of personal insult. This kind of rhetoric serves no one. It distracts from the issues that matter most to Florida families and undermines the opportunity we now have, as a party, to lead with purpose and unity.
At a time when Republican lawmakers are in a position to deliver generational change, many constituents are growing concerned that internal power struggles and the influence of special interests are taking precedence over the needs of everyday Floridians.
This is not what voters expect from their leaders. They deserve public servants who demonstrate civility, maturity, and focus—not division and political theater.
In light of your recent comments, many Floridians believe a public apology is warranted. More importantly, they are calling on you to recommit to respectful discourse, principled leadership, and a unified vision for Florida’s future.
The public is watching, and they expect better!
Sincerely,
A Concerned Floridian
[Add Your name and town]
A sample letter can be downloaded below: