Rep. Sam Garrison (R-Fleming Island) was formally elected to serve as Florida's next Speaker of the House for the 2026-2028 term in the lower chamber this week.
Speaking to House members, Rep. Garrison cautioned the Republican Party not to become complacent, despite the GOP having a supermajority in the chamber. The split is currently 86 for the GOP and 32 for Democrats.
“Republicans became the dominant political power in Florida through the power of our ideas and our principles," Garrison said. "But it also happened because the Democrats were more interested in internal power struggles and petty infighting than articulating and executing a vision that resonated with the people who put them here."
Despite its current dominance, Rep. Garrison warned his fellow GOP members that their friends across the aisle once held power in the state for over 120 years. Specifically, the last time Democrats held the Florida House was before the 1996 elections.
Republicans have led ever since.
Garrison credited several former GOP Speakers of the House for helping make that happen, including the late John Thrasher.
“Every portrait on the wall was a Democrat,” Garrison noted. “They thought it was never going to change, and while they squabbled, the Dan Websters, the John Thrashers, the Tom Slades, the Jeb Bushes, they got to work. We today, we here sit in the shade of trees that these conservative giants planted, and we must never forget.”
Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power congratulated Garrison in his new role on social media.
"Congratulations Speaker Designate Sam Garrison! The @FloridaGOP looks forward to continuing to fight alongside you to elect the best house in the Country!" Power wrote.
Garrison's designation comes after a somewhat rocky 2025 legislative session under Danny Perez. The former House Speaker often clashed with Gov. Ron DeSantis on issues surrounding illegal immigration in the early part of the year, although he did wish the new Speaker good luck in his new role.
“Americans for Prosperity-Florida congratulates Representative Sam Garrison on this well-deserved leadership position. His dedication to service and commitment to advancing policies that empower Floridians have earned him the trust and confidence of his colleagues. We look forward to working alongside Speaker-designate Garrison in the years ahead to continue building a stronger and more prosperous Florida where opportunity thrives, innovation flourishes, and every family can succeed," stated AFP State Director Skylar Zander.
The new House Speaker foreshadowed holding a steady gavel when the legislative session kicks off early next year. How that will go remains to be seen, as Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited and a new governor will be chosen after the November election.
“Our communities sent us here. They sent you here. And they sent us here for a reason, it is to be their voice. To bring our collective experiences to bear in addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities we face as a state," Garrison said.
Pushing forward, Garrison promised to stay focused on issues affecting everyday Floridians, including healthcare, criminal justice, and hurricane preparedness.
The Florida Legislative session begins on Jan. 13.
