TALLAHASSEE — Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner is rallying his troops as the legislative session ends and campaign season begins.
In an email sent to his Republican members Monday, Gardiner said Majority Leader Bill Galvano will be in charge of overseeing the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, which raises campaign cash and coordinates Republican state Senate campaigns, heading into the 2016 cycle.
The leadership post is usually held by the incoming Senate president, but with Republican state senators Jack Latvala of Clearwater and Joe Negron of Stuart still locked in a battle for the 2017-18 presidency, Gardiner tapped Galvano as the point-person for Senate races.
“Now that session is behind us, it’s time to focus our attention on acquiring the resources necessary to continue our success at the ballot box,” read an email sent Monday from Gardiner to his Republican members.
Lawmakers on Friday finished up a 20-day legislative session to write the state’s nearly $80 billion state budget. The state’s regular 60-day legislative session was derailed, in part, by a fight over Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. The expansion plan was supported by the Senate and opposed by the House and Gov. Rick Scott.