The Florida Chamber of Commerce endorsed Rep. Josie Tomkow (R-Polk City) in her special election bid for Senate District 14 this week.
"The Florida Chamber of Commerce endorses Josie Tomkow as Senate District 14's next state senator because of her proven record of defending free enterprise in Florida during her time in the Florida House," said Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. "We are confident she will continue to be a leader in ensuring Florida's local businesses continue to thrive as a member of the Florida Senate, and we look forward to working alongside her to further Florida's momentum."
Senate District 14 covers Hillsborough County, including most of Tampa. The seat was made available after Jay Collins was appointed lieutenant governor.
Rep. Tomkow 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.
During her time in the House, Tomkow has focused on agricultural preservation and child advocacy policies. She herself is a 3rd-generation cattle rancher and graduated from the University of Florida.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1916, is the largest voluntary business organization in the state. Tomkow thanked the chamber for its endorsement.
"At the latest in a proud line of Florida ranchers, I'm especially honored to have earned the important support of the Florida Chamber of Commerce in this special election," Tomkow said. "The Florida Chamber has been a champion for all job creators and all industries across our state, and I've been proud to work with them to build a better quality of life for Floridians and look forward to continuing to do so as District 14's next State Senator."
Tomkow was also endorsed by President Ben Albritton (R), along with top state Sens. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City), last November.
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 special general election is set for March 24.
