GOP keeps tight control over the Florida Legislature with wins in the House and Senate

Republicans in Florida will keep their supermajorities in both the state House and Senate the next two years after defending most — and maybe all — their seats during Tuesday’s election results, retaining their ability to pursue their agenda without meaningful opposition.

House Republicans were poised to hang onto at least 83 out of 120 seats by nearly 9 p.m. on Tuesday, which was more than enough to keep the required two-thirds of the chamber to pursue legislation with little concern for pushback from Democrats. Senate Republicans looked like they were going to keep all 28 seats held by their members, maintaining their supermajority by two.

Incoming House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Miami Republican, didn’t return a request for comment. Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo, a Democrat from Sunny Isles Beach, said he’ll work with Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton to improve South Floridians’ lives.

“Speaker Perez and I may differ on some social issues, but I believe we share greater commonality on what’s necessary for South Florida,” said Pizzo. “I think we’re in a good position to represent our region.”

Albritton told the Herald/Times that he was “literally excited” to preside over the upper chamber for the next two years.

“We’ve got a lot of irons in the fire,” Albritton said in an interview Tuesday night. “We’re going to be focused on water quality, agriculture and food insecurity. We’re working really really hard to try to figure out what can be helpful with insurance rates in Florida.”

Democrats had been targeting eight House seats to flip but they needed five to break the Republican supermajority control.

Votes were still being tallied late Tuesday night, with Democrats in a position to potentially flip one seat — but lose two more.

Windermere Republican state Rep. Carolina Amesty was losing her reelection bid by a little more than 200 votes around 10 p.m.. On the Democratic side, state Rep. Katherine Waldron from Wellington was losing by just over 500 votes, and Rep. Tom Keen, a Democrat from Orlando, appeared to have lost his seat.

Herald/Times staff reporter Lawrence Mower contributed to this report.

This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 10:09 PM with the headline "GOP keeps tight control over the Florida Legislature with wins in the House and Senate."