The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) is endorsing two Republican candidates running for open House seats in Northwest and Southwest Florida.
The business advocacy group is backing Jon Fay in House District 2 and Liesa Priddy in House District 82, citing both candidates’ professional backgrounds and alignment with AIF’s priorities.
Fay is one of a half-dozen Republicans vying for the Escambia- and Santa Rosa-based seat currently held by term-limited Rep. Alex Andrade. Fay graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he played running back for the football team and went on to spend 24 years in the military, serving as a naval flight officer.
“Jon Fay’s distinguished Naval career is a testament to his leadership, discipline, and commitment to service, and he brings that same level of excellence to his work in the private sector,” said AIF President and CEO Brewster Bevis.
“His exceptional record in the military, paired with his business acumen, makes him uniquely qualified to advocate for policies that strengthen Florida’s economy — lowering insurance costs, modernizing infrastructure, protecting Florida’s water and natural resources, and keeping our tourism industry strong. AIF is proud to endorse his campaign.”
Priddy is one of four Republican hopefuls competing to succeed Rep. Lauren Melo in HD 82, which covers swath of Southwest Florida, including Hendry County and parts of Collier County. Melo, who is running for Senate rather than a fourth term, previously endorsed Priddy in the open Primary race.
“Liesa Priddy’s distinguished background in business, agriculture, and conservation makes her an exceptional advocate for Florida’s economy and natural resources,” Bevis said. “We know her staunch conservative voice will be an asset for Florida’s business community in the Florida House, and we are proud to endorse her campaign,” Bevis said.
Both HD 2 and HD 82 tilt Republican — the party holds a 20-point voter registration advantage in the former and a 15-point advantage in the latter according to the most recent data from L2. In 2024, Andrade won re-election 58% of the vote in a three-way race and Melo cruised with 70% support in a head-to-head.
