Florida Republicans Favored a Candidate in the Legislative Primary, Until Trump Stepped In.
A state Senate race, noted as one of the costliest primaries in the state, features a Trump-endorsed candidate competing against a legislator endorsed by the majority of Florida's GOP leadership.
TroibNews 
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — The Florida state Senate, controlled by Republicans, finds itself in a challenging situation as it faces disfavor with Donald Trump.
In this Republican-leaning megastate, the race for a coastal northeast Florida state Senate district has emerged as one of the most fiercely contested in anticipation of Tuesday’s primaries. This election features Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and other influential figures from Tallahassee against an unexpected coalition of opponents, including the Republican presidential nominee, various trial lawyers, and notable Democratic donor John Morgan.
The contest in District 7 has become one of the most costly primaries in Florida this year, surpassing even congressional races. It pits state Rep. Tom Leek, a prominent attorney and House budget chair, against David Shoar, a former St. Johns County sheriff who entered the race only a few months ago. Leek, a supporter of DeSantis’s presidential run, has garnered backing from state Senate leaders and numerous Florida Republicans, including endorsements from the governor and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.
However, Leek’s candidacy has faced robust opposition from the state’s trial lawyers, including Morgan. Two weeks ago, Shoar received an endorsement from Trump, which came after Republican state Senate President Ben Albritton urged Shoar to withdraw from the race, questioning the legitimacy of the backing he claimed from Trump.
This race isn’t the only one where Trump has made his voice heard in his adopted home state. After casting his ballot in person in Palm Beach County last week, Trump endorsed numerous Republican candidates across various congressional primaries and down-ballot positions, like Miami-Dade sheriff and Miami-Dade supervisor of elections.
The increasingly contentious state Senate race has seen both candidates invest millions in attacking each other, a notably high expenditure in a district with approximately 540,000 residents. Trump has reaffirmed his support for Shoar, highlighting his endorsement through social media, while Shoar’s campaign released footage of Trump praising him as “100 percent MAGA.”
“The Tallahassee establishment is spending millions attacking me because just like President Trump, I can’t be bought or controlled by the powers that be,” Shoar stated.
Albritton has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
The ongoing conflict between Senate Republicans and Trump signifies a repeat of discord where attempts to mold the GOP landscape have faltered. In the lead-up to the 2022 midterms, DeSantis had confrontations with legislative leaders, influencing several Senate races and compelling Republicans to adjust their strategies.
While DeSantis did not assert as much influence in the 2024 legislative races, allies discussed the possibility of challenging state Rep. Randy Fine (R), a Brevard County legislator who had a falling out with the governor after switching his endorsement from DeSantis to Trump. Fine is currently contesting for a Space Coast state Senate seat and has received Trump’s endorsement.
Despite internal tensions, it’s expected that the tug-of-war within the GOP during this primary season will not substantially affect Florida’s legislative control. The GOP maintains supermajorities in both legislative chambers, facilitating the passage of numerous bills championed by DeSantis, especially during his recent presidential campaign. Democrats aim to regain enough seats to diminish the Republicans’ supermajority in at least one chamber, although an overhaul in legislative control is not anticipated.
Having governed the Florida Senate for 30 years, Republicans distanced their fundraising and political efforts from the Republican Party of Florida over a decade ago. While there have been leadership changes in the Senate, many consultants and staff within the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee have remained consistent.
Typically, when the committee has engaged financially in primaries, it has emerged victorious. Nonetheless, the struggle for Senate District 7 could pose a serious challenge to this record.
During the recent Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Albritton specifically called out Shoar while speaking with reporters. Just after the attempted assassination of Trump, Albritton commented that Shoar was financially supported by individuals aligned with “Never Trumpers” and the Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson, labeling it a “deception” for Shoar to claim Trump’s support.
“David Shoar has no place in the state’s upper chamber,” Albritton remarked in July. “We must unite and support President Trump.” He further noted, “we will do whatever it takes to make sure that [Leek] is elected.”
Even after Trump endorsed Shoar, Senate Republicans continued to back Leek. Shoar’s campaign has heavily relied on Trump’s endorsement, and the former president reiterated his support in a recent video stating, “He has been with us since the beginning.”
However, Trump is not the only challenge for Senate Republicans this election cycle. They are also facing legal obstacles in another contentious primary, having been sued over advertisements attacking a rival to their preferred candidate, state Rep. Keith Truenow (R), in a central Florida race. Albritton and the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee face allegations of libelous mailers from Bowen Kou, a grocery store owner, suggesting he is influenced by China and the Chinese Communist Party. Albritton’s legal team disputed the libel claims and sought dismissal of the lawsuit, but a judge denied their motion.
Anthony Sabatini, chair of the Lake County Republican Party and Kou’s legal representative, criticized Senate Republicans for engaging in the primary, asserting it was a “terrible move.” He emphasized that resources should be directed toward combating ballot initiatives related to abortion and recreational marijuana instead.
“They should not be getting involved in primaries,” Sabatini argued. “They have wasted millions of dollars when they could’ve been spending that against Amendment 3 and 4.”
This report includes contributions from Kimberly Leonard.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
In this Republican-leaning megastate, the race for a coastal northeast Florida state Senate district has emerged as one of the most fiercely contested in anticipation of Tuesday’s primaries. This election features Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and other influential figures from Tallahassee against an unexpected coalition of opponents, including the Republican presidential nominee, various trial lawyers, and notable Democratic donor John Morgan.
The contest in District 7 has become one of the most costly primaries in Florida this year, surpassing even congressional races. It pits state Rep. Tom Leek, a prominent attorney and House budget chair, against David Shoar, a former St. Johns County sheriff who entered the race only a few months ago. Leek, a supporter of DeSantis’s presidential run, has garnered backing from state Senate leaders and numerous Florida Republicans, including endorsements from the governor and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.
However, Leek’s candidacy has faced robust opposition from the state’s trial lawyers, including Morgan. Two weeks ago, Shoar received an endorsement from Trump, which came after Republican state Senate President Ben Albritton urged Shoar to withdraw from the race, questioning the legitimacy of the backing he claimed from Trump.
This race isn’t the only one where Trump has made his voice heard in his adopted home state. After casting his ballot in person in Palm Beach County last week, Trump endorsed numerous Republican candidates across various congressional primaries and down-ballot positions, like Miami-Dade sheriff and Miami-Dade supervisor of elections.
The increasingly contentious state Senate race has seen both candidates invest millions in attacking each other, a notably high expenditure in a district with approximately 540,000 residents. Trump has reaffirmed his support for Shoar, highlighting his endorsement through social media, while Shoar’s campaign released footage of Trump praising him as “100 percent MAGA.”
“The Tallahassee establishment is spending millions attacking me because just like President Trump, I can’t be bought or controlled by the powers that be,” Shoar stated.
Albritton has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
The ongoing conflict between Senate Republicans and Trump signifies a repeat of discord where attempts to mold the GOP landscape have faltered. In the lead-up to the 2022 midterms, DeSantis had confrontations with legislative leaders, influencing several Senate races and compelling Republicans to adjust their strategies.
While DeSantis did not assert as much influence in the 2024 legislative races, allies discussed the possibility of challenging state Rep. Randy Fine (R), a Brevard County legislator who had a falling out with the governor after switching his endorsement from DeSantis to Trump. Fine is currently contesting for a Space Coast state Senate seat and has received Trump’s endorsement.
Despite internal tensions, it’s expected that the tug-of-war within the GOP during this primary season will not substantially affect Florida’s legislative control. The GOP maintains supermajorities in both legislative chambers, facilitating the passage of numerous bills championed by DeSantis, especially during his recent presidential campaign. Democrats aim to regain enough seats to diminish the Republicans’ supermajority in at least one chamber, although an overhaul in legislative control is not anticipated.
Having governed the Florida Senate for 30 years, Republicans distanced their fundraising and political efforts from the Republican Party of Florida over a decade ago. While there have been leadership changes in the Senate, many consultants and staff within the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee have remained consistent.
Typically, when the committee has engaged financially in primaries, it has emerged victorious. Nonetheless, the struggle for Senate District 7 could pose a serious challenge to this record.
During the recent Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Albritton specifically called out Shoar while speaking with reporters. Just after the attempted assassination of Trump, Albritton commented that Shoar was financially supported by individuals aligned with “Never Trumpers” and the Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson, labeling it a “deception” for Shoar to claim Trump’s support.
“David Shoar has no place in the state’s upper chamber,” Albritton remarked in July. “We must unite and support President Trump.” He further noted, “we will do whatever it takes to make sure that [Leek] is elected.”
Even after Trump endorsed Shoar, Senate Republicans continued to back Leek. Shoar’s campaign has heavily relied on Trump’s endorsement, and the former president reiterated his support in a recent video stating, “He has been with us since the beginning.”
However, Trump is not the only challenge for Senate Republicans this election cycle. They are also facing legal obstacles in another contentious primary, having been sued over advertisements attacking a rival to their preferred candidate, state Rep. Keith Truenow (R), in a central Florida race. Albritton and the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee face allegations of libelous mailers from Bowen Kou, a grocery store owner, suggesting he is influenced by China and the Chinese Communist Party. Albritton’s legal team disputed the libel claims and sought dismissal of the lawsuit, but a judge denied their motion.
Anthony Sabatini, chair of the Lake County Republican Party and Kou’s legal representative, criticized Senate Republicans for engaging in the primary, asserting it was a “terrible move.” He emphasized that resources should be directed toward combating ballot initiatives related to abortion and recreational marijuana instead.
“They should not be getting involved in primaries,” Sabatini argued. “They have wasted millions of dollars when they could’ve been spending that against Amendment 3 and 4.”
This report includes contributions from Kimberly Leonard.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
