Attorney Yoni Anijar is a first-generation American who currently serves as a military officer in the U.S. Army Reserves, and is a conservative Trump candidate running for the only solid Republican state house seat 100 in Broward County.
If elected, Anijar believes that he’ll ensure Broward residents have true representation in Tallahassee. Inspired by leaders like Rep. Chip LaMarca (R), Yoni aims to continue that legacy with energetic, principled representation.
One interesting fact about Anijar is that he is a former registered Democrat. Anijar described his political evolution as a strength. He cited leaders like Presidents Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan who made similar transitions, viewing his switch as a sign of maturity and conviction.
During an interview with The Floridian, the Trump-supporting Anijar views the current president as the most impactful and consequential leader of the 21st century, particularly in areas such as immigration and national security.
The Floridian: Why are you running personally?
Anijar: Part of the reason why I'm running is I want to raise a family— I was born and raised in Broward... I'm going to get married, have a family, and raise them in Broward County... I want to do everything I can to ensure that... the residents of Broward County can rely on the fact that they have a strong conservative advocate looking out for their interests in Tallahassee.
The Floridian: Why run for this State House seat?
Anijar: This is the only district in Broward that's a solid red Republican district... I want to make sure that whoever gets elected, but particularly myself, is a zealous advocate who's going to be a steadfast supporter of Trump's America First agenda... I want to continue on that legacy, and I want to ensure that people continue having a conservative firebrand like Chip when I am elected into Tallahassee and looking out for their interests.”
The Floridian: You used to be a Democrat. Why the switch?
Anijar: “I had a self-awareness about myself, knowing that I was wrong, and there's a bit of humility in coming out and admitting that you were wrong... I knew going into it that that was the first thing that they're gonna bring up, and it should reassure people that like, wow, you know what? Either he's a masochist that likes the abuse, or he actually believes in everything he's saying.”
The Floridian: Did you vote for Trump?
Anijar: I voted for Trump three times. I've donated to President Trump... he's definitely most effective president in my lifetime... he's on the path of being, this term, being the most consequential president, I think, in history, definitely the 21st century, but I would say top five in all of American history.
The Floridian: What makes military candidates different?
Anijar: I think being in the military, it gives you a perspective about team building. It gives you a unique experience and exposure that will inform a lot of the decisions that you'd be making as a lawmaker... you're setting yourself up to be a much more effective policy maker, because you have that experience as someone who doesn't.”
The Floridian: On Jewish identity and support for Israel?
Anijar: As a Jewish American, you have a lot of Jews in this country that... their Judaism is just an extension of their liberalism... what's their connection to Judaism? The fact that they like Seinfeld and bagels? There's something a lot more than that. There's form and substance and religion of over 2000 years.
The Floridian: What do you think of Alligator Alcatraz?
Anijar: Trump has prioritized the immigration issue more than any other president, definitely any president in my lifetime... the proof is in the pudding. Objectively, it's improved in the last year since he's taken office, and it's in sharp contrast to the disastrous, kind of, in my mind, grossly reckless policies of the Biden administration.
There are currently two other candidates in Anijar's Republican primary race—Mayor Christopher Vincent and Eric Stelnicki.
