Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his endorsement of Rep. Alex Rizo (R-Hialeah) for Florida's open Senate District 39 seat through a post on social media this week.
"Happy to support Alex Rizo for Florida Senate, district 39," DeSantis wrote. "As a member of the FL House, Alex has worked hard to advance policies that have made our state the Free State of Florida. I have no doubt he will continue the fight in the Florida Senate and will make Hialeah proud. Get it done, Alex!"
Gov. DeSantis's endorsement comes after Rep. Rizo announced his candidacy in SD 39 earlier this month. The seat became available after Bryan Avila resigned following his pick as lieutenant governor by Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds.
SD 39 is located in Miami-Dade County and includes Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, and Miami Lakes.
"I’m running for the Florida Senate because this community has always been my home," Rizo wrote at the time of his announcement. "I’m ready to continue fighting in the Senate for the conservative values and common-sense policies that have made the ‘Free State of Florida’ the very best in America."
Rep. Rizo has served House District 112, located in Miami-Dade County, since 2020. Rizo won re-election in HD 112 unopposed in June but will forgo the next two years of his term to run in SD 39.
In addition, Rep. Rizo won re-election by 46 points over Democrat Jackie Gil-Abarzua in 2024. He also won without appearing on the ballot in 2022 and defeated Democrat Annette Collazo by 20 points in 2020.
Will the winning trend continue for Rizo?
Certainty, having Gov. DeSantis will help. It might also put a damper on Rep. David Borrero's (R-Hialeah) chances after he announced his candidacy in late August.
A Democrat has not filed for the seat.
Notably, DeSantis has not yet called for a special election to fill Avila's seat. But with DeSantis backing Rizo, that might change in the not-too-distant future.
