Florida Senate President Ben Albritton (R), along with top state Sens. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City), formally endorsed Rep. Josie Tomkow in her special election bid for Senate in District 14. The seat is up for grabs after the appointment of Jay Collins as lieutenant governor by Gov. Ron DeSantis in August.
“Josie Tomkow is a proven warrior for the conservative values that have made Florida safer for our families, created more opportunity for our students and ensured government doesn’t get in the way of job creation,” Albritton, Boyd, and Trumbull wrote in a joint statement.
“Josie is a seventh-generation Floridian who knows first-hand how crucial it is to protect Florida’s precious natural resources," they continued. "We are proud to endorse Josie Tomkow for Senate District 14, because we need leaders like her in the fight for a more affordable Florida with access to opportunities for all.”
Rep. Josie Tomkow (R-Polk City) currently represents District 51 in the House, which covers part of Polk County. She was first elected in 2018 and has been re-elected since then.
Over her seven-plus years in the legislature, Tomkow has received numerous awards for her work, including for agriculture and child advocacy. They include several Legislative Champion Awards in Florida 4-H and Florida Public Broadcasting in 2020, and a Florida Coalition for Children Legislature of the Year Award in 2019.
Outside of politics, Tomkow is a cattle rancher. She also earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida and is an avid Gators fan.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a special election for SD 14 in late October.
If history is any indication, Tomkow has a good chance of replacing Collins in the district next year. Collins won the seat by over nine points against Democrat Janet Cruz in 2024.
The SD 14 Republican primary is Jan 13, with the general election set for March 24.
