State Rep. Jay Trumbull announced on Tuesday his campaign to succeed Sen. George Gainer in Senate District 2.
Trumbull, who has served House District 6 since 2014, was finishing his fourth and final term in the Florida House. The Panama City Republican decided to throw his hat in the ring after Gainer, an incumbent Republican who was elected to SD 2 in 2016, announced on Monday that he would not be seeking another term in office.
“Senator George Gainer is an exemplary leader with a heart for public service, and I will work hard to carry on his legacy for District 2,” said Trumbull. “Serving in the State House has been a great privilege, and in the Senate, I will continue to fight for the small businesses and working families of Florida.”
Trumbull is no stranger in the political arena. He has served as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee since 2020, working side-by-side with House Speaker Chris Sprowls on the state’s all-important budget. Under his leadership, the Legislature passed an unprecedented $100 billion 2021-22 budget to help much of Florida recover during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. The Legislature followed that up in 2022, passing a $109 billion budget that saw Governor Ron DeSantis uncap his veto pen to the tune of $3.1 billion. Trumbull’s leadership was also instrumental in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, where he led efforts to help rebuild Bay County and Tyndall Air Force Base and prepare Florida for future natural disasters.
Born and raised in Panama City, Trumbull is an Auburn University graduate, where he earned a degree in small business management and entrepreneurship. After graduating, Trumbull joined his father in their bottled water and water conditioning business. He is President of Bush Air Conditioning and Whitehead Plumbing, both located in Bay County. Trumbull and his wife, Brittany, have three children and reside in Panama City.
Speaking on his new bid, Trumbull says he remains committed to working hard for the Panhandle and promoting values in a district where his roots are planted.
“Our Panhandle values of faith, family, and freedom are the key to Florida’s present economic boom. To sustain that prosperity long term, I’ll fight to lower taxes, protect our environment, and fight for the lives of the unborn. I have and will continue to stand with Governor DeSantis to push back against the federal overreach that threatens our Constitutional rights and preserve our focus on freedom in our great State,” Trumbull added.
Trumbull’s campaign announcement has been met with a flood of endorsements, with Senate President Wilton Simpson and Republican Senators Kathleen Passidomo and Ben Albritton lining up behind him. The biggest endorsement, however, came from DeSantis who said he not only supports Trumbull but believes he can fill the massive void left by Gainer’s departure.
.@JayTrumbull has been a strong ally for my agenda in the Legislature and a great champion for the people of NW Florida. @SenatorGainer leaves big shoes to fill, but I believe Jay will be a great Senator and I am happy to support him for Senate District 2.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) June 7, 2022