The Florida Chamber of Commerce is lining up behind the Republican nominees in a pair of March 24 Special Elections for state House.
In HD 51, the business group is backing Hilary Holley, Executive Director of the Florida FFA Foundation, who is competing against Democrat Edwin Perez to succeed Rep. Josie Tomkow, who relinquished the Polk-based seat to enter the race to replace now-Lt. Gov. Jay Collins in SD 14.
“Hilary is a local business leader and with her background in agriculture, we are confident in Hilary’s commitment to empower job creators and the free market and her willingness to fight to create good-paying jobs to make Florida even more competitive,” said Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson.
Holley said that “a strong economy and education system are essential for Florida to remain prosperous into the future” and that she looks forward to working with the Chamber “on policies that will support local businesses by reducing regulatory burdens to strengthen and promote free enterprise, as well as supporting Florida’s farmers and ranchers.”
In Palm Beach County-based HD 87, the Chamber is giving its support to Jon Maples, a businessman and community leader who secured the GOP nomination to replace former Rep. Mike Caruso, who exited when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him as the county Clerk. Maples faces Democrat Emily Gregory in the General Election.
“The Florida Chamber has put forth a strategic plan to make Florida a Top 10 global economy by 2030, as well as create 1.34 million net new jobs, and we trust Jon Maples will help keep us on a pathway to get there as a member of the Florida House,” Wilson said.
Maples said it was “an honor” to have the Chamber’s support and that he believes “we can continue to grow Florida’s economy and lower costs for families by empowering job creators, cutting taxes, and eliminating regulations that hurt local businesses.”
HD 51 and HD 87 are both solid Republican seats. President Donald Trump carried the former by 13 points and the latter by 11 in the 2024 election while DeSantis ran up the score even more in the 2022 Governor race.
