Florida’s growing influence in U.S. politics is becoming more apparent with the new appointments from the incoming Trump administration and leadership positions in Congress. With several key nominees from the state and a strong presence in congressional committee chairs, the compass needle with respect to funding and policy control is swinging toward the sunshine state.
Floridians in the Trump Administration
While it is well-known that President-elect Trump hails from Florida, it is not as well publicized that many of his cabinet position picks also hail from the Sunshine State, contributing to Florida’s emerging role as a political hub.
Some of the Florida notables nominated include Senator Mark Rubio for Secretary of State, Pam Bondi to lead Veterans’ Affairs, Dr. Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and Mike Waltz to serve as the future National Security Advisor. Other Floridians nominated include:
- Janette Nesheiwat – Surgeon General
- Todd Blanche – Deputy Attorney General
- Dr. Dave Weldon – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Jared Isaacman – NASA
- Jay Bhattacharya – National Institutes of Health
- Paul Atkins – SEC Chairman
- Susie Wiles – White House Chief of Staff
In addition, while not from Florida, Trump’s nominee to head Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has strong political and family ties to the state.
Florida’s Power in Congressional Committees
Florida’s influence extends beyond the executive branch and into the legislative branch, where the state just gained a new committee chairmanship. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) who represents the Treasure Coast be the next chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Rep. Mast edged out more senior members like Rep. Joe Willson (R-SC) and Darrell Issa (R-CA) for the position.
Other powerful Floridians in the House include Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) who is a senior member of the influential House Appropriations Committee. On the Democratic side, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) is also a high-ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee.
Florida’s Growing Political Influence
As Florida continues to increase its influence within the Trump administration and on Capitol Hill, its political power is becoming undeniable. Trump has chosen to remain in the state after his election victory, coming to Washington only once to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House and speak with House Republicans near Capitol Hill. It is also likely that Trump will continue to spend his downtime in Florida after the election, as he did in his first term.
This power nexus will likely lead to Florida policies gaining a more central role in federal policy consideration, most likely through issues related to immigration and health care. For example, will Florida’s law that hospitals are required report undocumented immigrants seeking care to authorities w be elevated to a national level? Will the Trump Administration look to adopt Florida state provisions penalizing companies for hiring undocumented workers? The Florida Policy Institute estimated that Florida’s state economy lost $12.6 billion one year after the bill signing, so these policies could have a large effect on the national economy if enacted at the federal level.
Meanwhile, Florida’s health care laws might begin to gain a wider audience at the national level. Florida’s sweeping 2023 bill restricting gender-affirming care might rise to the national level. The law contains provisions that ban all gender-affirming care for persons 18 or younger. The law also prohibits gender-affirming care for adults in many ways as well, the including provision that prohibits physicians from prescribing sex-reassignment medications to adults via telemedicine.
Looking at the mix of influential lawmakers, strategic appointments, and high-profile state leaders, it seems Florida is firmly positioned to be a central player in national policy-making in the years ahead. Whether it’s through its political leadership in Washington or the success of its state government, Florida’s rise is shaping the political landscape for the future.