Striding across the stage for the State of the State address, Gov. Ron DeSantis shook hands with Senate President Ben Albritton — but skipped acknowledging House Speaker Daniel Perez, a man who has been unafraid to criticize DeSantis.

Perez called the handshake snub “petulant.” Albritton insisted he was too focused in the moment and didn’t know what happened.

That’s a preview of the balancing act leaders are facing as the Opening Day of the 2026 Legislative Session kicked off Tuesday. Albritton tried his best to maintain an optimistic outlook as he answered questions from reporters who were quick to bring up reported bad blood between DeSantis and Perez and the two chambers of the Legislature. 

“I’m going to remain positive. I’m going to do everything in my power to work with the Governor and the Speaker to build wins for Floridians. I’ll leave it at that,” Albritton said.

He read Bible quotes, if anyone needed some inspiration on how to be good.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God,” Albritton said.

Albritton called Perez a friend and said disagreements are a reality in Tallahassee. 

“The House operates very different from the way the Senate operates. The rip that you’re talking about, look, these things happen. It’s a natural part of the process,” Albritton told reporters. “So I’m not going to talk bad about this Speaker, not in a million years.”

Turning to some of the controversial issues that could be taken up by the Legislature, Albritton was asked if the Senate was going to support one bill rapidly moving through the House to lower the gun-buying age from 21 years old to 18, stripping away a protection put in place by a bipartisan vote after the Parkland school shooting.

A similar bill died in the Senate in the 2025 Legislative Session.

“This last year, they were not supportive of it. I have not heard anything different this year,” Albritton said, although he added, “It will be determined by the Chairs and the Senate and the Senate appetite for such a bill as a whole.”

“When you look around Florida and you’re listening, affordability is what’s on people’s minds. And we have great gun laws here in the state of Florida,” Albritton said.

When it comes to the push to lower property taxes, the Senate Finance and Tax Committee will explore options during the upcoming Regular Session, Albritton explained.

“Let me also be very clear,” the Senate President said, “we are absolutely committed to putting something on the ballot that can help Florida homeowners. Period. End of story.”

What about the fact that DeSantis vetoed $1 million for a study to understand the effect of eliminating the property tax in Florida?

“That’s a great question,” Albritton told one reporter. “We’re doing studies of our own. So I don’t see where that diminishes the prospect of property tax reform in the state. It’s a good question though.”

Nestor Menendez, a first-time candidate for the Coral Gables Commission’s Group 4 seat, is touting an early fundraising surge.

He reported raising $30,500 in his first quarter running for the seat now held by Ariel Fernandez, a frequent foil of Mayor Vince Lago at City Hall.

Menendez’s gains came through 42 personal checks between Oct. 20 and Dec. 29. All were from donors listing Coral Gables addresses, according to his campaign’s filings.

In a statement announcing the haul, Menendez — a lawyer at DiFalco Fernandez LLLP in an of-counsel capacity — framed the promising start as a neighborhood-backed campaign rather than an outside-funded effort.

“This city means so much to my family and me, and I am humbled by the strong support of friends and neighbors throughout the community,” he said.

“That trust strengthens my resolve to represent every resident with integrity and dedication.”

For now, Menendez has the field to himself. The City Clerk’s candidate list for the 2027 municipal cycle currently shows him as the only Group 4 candidate.

Menendez, who turns 50 on Jan. 26, is pitching himself as a civility-and-stability candidate in a city where political tensions have routinely spilled beyond the dais in recent years.

On his campaign website, he says he is running “with a clear mission: restore civility at City Hall, put families and residents first, and strengthen the community values that make Coral Gables the City Beautiful.”

The campaign is also leaning heavily on Menendez’s résumé inside city government. A University of Miami-trained lawyer, he has served on the city’s Planning & Zoning Board and Charter Review Committee.

State voter records show Menendez is a registered Republican and voted every year between 2022 and 2025. He also cast ballots in 2016, 2018 and 2020.

He first claimed Coral Gables as his primary city of residence between 2021 and 2022, state records show.

Coral Gables’ biennial election is on April 13, 2027 — for now. Voters are set to decide this April whether to shift the city’s 2027 election to November 2026 so it coincides with federal and state races, a move proponents say will boost turnout while lowering costs.