ben albritton

The Florida Senate's leading pro-life advocate, Erin Grall, refiled a controversial bill on Wednesday that would expand the state's wrongful death statute to include fetuses, despite her claim last year that there was still "work to be done" before it could pass. Only—this bill is identical to last year's, which was killed before its final […]

House Republican Lauren Melo (R-Naples) thanked former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo after she endorsed Melo for her Senate District 28 on Saturday. "I am humbled by former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s endorsement of my candidacy for Senate District 28. She has served our community with strength, and leaves behind an impactful legacy. I am grateful […]

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday vetoed the TRUMP Act, a divisive illegal immigration bill, officially slamming the door on the month-long tumult within the Florida Republican party. The 84-page bill, passed during the second special session of the year, was quietly rejected by DeSantis around 6 p.m. Thursday in what appears to be the final […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - State Sen. Geraldine Thompson died following complications from knee replacement surgery on Thursday, according to her family. Sen. Geraldine Thompson was 76. "Senator Thompson's passing is a profound loss for the Senate. Her watched eye, cheerful smile, and thoughtful, well-researched, and spirited debate will be greatly missed," Senate President Ben Albritton said […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Speaker of the House  Daniel Perez addressed House lawmakers this week over his public feud with Gov. Ron DeSantis on how the state should handle illegal immigration. "Governor, we have gotten to know one another better in the last three weeks than in the last six years. I'm looking forward to […]

TALLAHASSEE—After weeks of ferocious infighting among Florida Republicans, the rift in the GOP Legislature appears to be closing as both factions touted new anti-illegal immigration legislation during the third special session of the year. The conciliatory three-bill package, sponsored by Sen. Joe Gruters—who also carried the controversial TRUMP Act—is a compromise between proposals from Gov. […]

TALLAHASSEE—After a brutal few weeks rife with party infighting and bruising insults, Gov. Ron DeSantis believes he and the GOP Legislature are poised to finally "land the plane" on immigration policy, he announced Monday. The hopeful and even conciliatory tone he struck at Monday's Tallahassee press conference was a far cry from his week-long statewide […]

Florida Senator Blaise Ingoglia, the sponsor of eight anti-illegal immigration bills crafted by Gov. Ron DeSantis and killed by GOP leaders, worries the Legislature's TRUMP Act leaves the door open for "abuse" of the immigration system. Ingoglia, a DeSantis ally and rumored appointee to Chief Financial Officer, referred to a sweeping, 84-page anti-illegal immigration bill, […]

TALLAHASSEE—As Gov. Ron DeSantis accuses the GOP Legislature of touting a "toothless" immigration bill, House Speaker Danny Perez, a Republican leading the pushback on the governor, argues that DeSantis's proposals are weaker than the Legislature's. Perez's comments to The Floridian come amid a deepening divide within Florida Republicans over the TRUMP Act, an anti-illegal immigration bill that […]

Florida Senator Joe Gruters is optimistic that Gov. Ron DeSantis will reconsider his plan to veto an anti-illegal immigration bill the governor has dubbed "toothless" and "horrendous," among other things. A staunch Trump ally and contender for the Chief Financial Officer post, the Sarasota Republican told The Floridian that he still believes there's a chance DeSantis will […]

President Donald Trump told Gov. Ron DeSantis that he "can't be weak" in the immigration fight against Florida's GOP Legislature, the governor revealed Wednesday. Trump's encouragement comes as both DeSantis and the Legislature claim they have the president's approval on their separate illegal immigration bills. Though GOP Lawmakers okayed a measure edited by the White […]

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator President Ben Albritton, and House Speaker Danny Perez are in the middle of an intra-party feud over the contentious issue of illegal immigration With Senate Republicans looking to maneuver around Gov. DeSantis and pass a veto-proof immigration bill (S.B 2), could Senate Democrats help the Albritton faction of the state […]

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Republican lawmakers revolted against Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, adjourning his special session just 15 minutes after it began and, in a stunning move, starting their own surprise session. The unusual GOP mutiny is the first of its kind under DeSantis, once heralded by some as the next potential U.S. President. The governor had […]

Weeks after Gov. Ron DeSantis sparked a political power struggle with Republican lawmakers, the Legislature on Friday showed signs of falling in line with his call for a special session by announcing its start time. But it won't happen willingly. In a memo issued Friday, Republicans Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Danny Perez […]

TALLAHASSEE—Gov. Ron DeSantis is so committed to convening the Legislature next week to combat illegal immigration that he considers himself a "dog" latched onto Lawmakers' ankles, insisting that he will not "let go" until the issue is handled. DeSantis made the remarks during a press conference in Tallahassee on Tuesday, responding to a reporter's question […]

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday ratcheted up the pressure on Florida lawmakers to convene a special session addressing illegal immigration, prompted by criticism from within that his plan was "premature" and lacked specifics. At a press conference in Winter Haven, DeSantis said he was "surprised" top Republican lawmakers had published a letter Monday night condemning […]

President-elect Donald Trump waded into a power struggle between Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican leaders Tuesday, throwing his political weight behind the Florida Governor in his call for a special session. The special session, which DeSantis announced would be held at the end of the month, is supposed to bolster Trump's efforts to squash illegal […]

Already opposed to open carry laws, Florida Senate President Ben Albritton is unsure if he would agree to one Republican's bill repealing Parkland-era gun laws requiring Floridians to be 21 to purchase firearms. Albritton, a Wauchula Republican, told reporters Monday that because he likes to follow law enforcement's lead on gun issues, and because he […]