Florida GOP backs Blaise Ingoglia for CFO

The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) is backing Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia for a full term.

“CFO Ingoglia has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to fiscal responsibility, transparency, and protecting Florida taxpayers,” said Evan Power, Chair of the Republican Party of Florida. “From day one, he has worked to safeguard our state’s financial future while advancing policies that keep Florida strong, free, and prosperous.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Ingoglia to the position in July to succeed former CFO Jimmy Patronis, who left office to run for Congress. This will be Ingoglia’s first election to the position.

“I’m honored to earn the endorsement of the Republican Party of Florida in the race for CFO. From my days as a local party Chairman to my time leading the state party and helping deliver huge wins for President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis, I’ve seen firsthand that our strength comes from the grassroots activists who drive our success in every corner of the Sunshine State,” Ingoglia said.

Ingoglia has also earned support from fire and police organizations.

Since assuming the CFO post, Ingoglia has maintained a high profile. He has traveled to more than a dozen municipalities where he has harangued local government officials for “overspending” and “overtaxing” residents. He says his Office has accounted for about $2 billion in overspending among those local governments he’s targeted.

Ingoglia has not been shy about his oversight of the Department of Financial Services, where he returned about $88 million in unclaimed property to Floridians in February alone.

Ingoglia faces two Republicans in the Primary: Frank Collige and Benjamin Horbowy, though neither have raised significant funds to challenge Ingoglia.

Also running is no-party candidate John Smith. No Democrat has filed. But assuming Smith makes the ballot, non-GOP voters would be locked out of voting in the August Republican Primary.

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Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics contributed to this report.