- The two candidates vying to lead the Florida Republican Party are Leon County GOP Chair Evan Power and Vice Chair Christian Ziegler.
- Evan Power is the Chair of the Leon County Republican Party and the RPOF’s statewide chair of chairs.
- He also works for a Tallahassee-based consulting and lobbying firm.
- The election for the Florida GOP chair is scheduled for Feb. 18.
Following a dominating performance in the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans in the Sunshine State are firmly in the driver’s seat heading into the next election cycle. And while the Florida GOP is likely to continue to build on its momentum with Governor Ron DeSantis at the helm, the party finds itself in search of a general who can continue to recruit voters and build coalitions to keep the state red in 2024.
So one question remains: who will be the next leader of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF)?
Current RPOF Chair Joe Gruters, who was instrumental in turning Florida into a bright red bastion, is not seeking reelection, paving the way for a Florida politics veteran to take up the mantle.
The Capitolist sat down with two candidates running for the post. Below is our interview with Evan Power, who chairs the Leon County Republican Party, where we discuss his vision for the state party if he is elected. Our interview with Christian Ziegler is here.
Q: What’s your background in Florida politics?
Power: I got my start interning and then staffing now-Senator Marco Rubio in the Florida House on his rise to be Florida Speaker. I was elected Vice Chair of the Leon County Republican Party in 2011 and Chairman in 2015.
Q: Why did you decide to run for RPOF Chair?
Power: I decided to run for Chair because I care about the organization and the role it should play in supporting our candidates and local parties.
Q: What do you bring to the role?
Power: I’ve been a guy who has served as a precinct committee person, vice chair, and chairman at the local level. I am also uniquely situated in Tallahassee to help build the party on a day-to-day basis. Over the last 6 years, I have traveled extensively around the state and heard directly the needs of our local leaders.
Q: The RPOF is coming off a red tsunami following the midterm election. If chosen to lead the party, how do you keep that momentum going and stay on top?
Power: Building permanent infrastructure in our counties is mission number one. We have to continue to turn out our voters at a higher rate than democrats. If you look at the victories we were able to achieve in blue Leon county it is because we have turned out our voters at a better rate the last three cycles.
Q: Looking ahead, what’s next for the Republican Party of Florida?
Power: Continue to push to win more county, municipal, and school board races. Florida is the beacon of freedom for the rest of the nation and we need to continue to push that success to local levels.