Outgoing State Rep. Randy Fine is running for the state Senate and four GOP candidates are vying for his seat.
Political analysts tell Florida Daily that the primary race is most tightly-contested by Mike Limongello and Monique Miller. Both candidates have received some major endorsements, but when it comes to a GOP primary, most voters want to know who or what group is backing them.
A GOP consultant told Florida Daily,.“This is a classic race of the business community vs. the trial lawyers.”
Limongello has received endorsements from the business side like the Associated Builders & Contractors and The Florida Realtors and recently from Law enforcement groups like the Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA).
Miller’s campaign has the backing of GOP establishment, but her campaign reports also show donations from trial lawyers. In fact, one of Miller campaign consultants has been a top consultant to those supported by the Florida trial attorney lobby.
On her campaign pieces, Miller’s show pictures of her with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but the governor has not endorsed her.
“What balls she (Miller) has,” said one Tallahassee GOP consultant. “She’s using DeSantis’ pictures as a campaign prop, while taking big dollars from those who oppose the governor’s policies.”
The trial attorney lobby opposed property insurance and tort reform passed by Gov. DeSantis and the Republican-led Florida Legislature.
A campaign position by Miller says she wants to “force” insurance companies to turn profits into rate relief.
One of Miller’s GOP opponents shook their heads when asked what they thought about her campaign mailer.
“Is Miller even a Republican?” An opposing campaign official said to Florida Daily. “To advocate forcing companies to give money back sounds like something the Democrats would say, like Joe Biden or Kamala Harris.”
While two of Millers’ opponents didn’t want to be named on the record for their criticism of her, one did – Mike Limongello.
Limongello says Miller has been avoiding GOP forums because she doesn’t want to address the controversies surrounding her campaign and answer why she has taken so much money from those who oppose Gov. DeSantis’ fiscal policies.
“We need to continue pressing on tort reform (and) Monique Miller is funded by trial attorneys,”Limongello said. ”She’s not going to say anything aggressive or working to fight or lower insurance (costs).
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