Florida House Representative Tom Leek won the Republican primary for Senate District 7, defeating David Shoar and Gerry James with 47% of the vote, in a race heavily influenced by endorsements from prominent Florida Republicans including Governor Ron DeSantis.
Florida House Representative Tom Leek won a contentious Republican primary for Senate District 7, defeating former St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar and candidate Gerry James, securing 47 percent of the vote, with Shoar accruing 28 percent and James receiving 25 percent.
The race, covering St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler, and parts of Volusia counties, drew significant attention due to endorsements from high-profile figures within the Florida Republican Party — primarily Gov. Ron DeSantis, who supported Leek, and former President Donald Trump, who backed Shoar.
“There were so many factors that led to this incredible victory, but I truly credit the voters of Senate District 7, who did not fall for the false attacks, hurled by statewide Democrat, personal injury lawyers, who spent millions of dollars trying to influence a local state Senate Republican primary election,” Leek said following his victory, in reference to Attorney and Democrat donor John Morgan, who two weeks ago challenged Leek to a debate over changes to Florida’s homeowners’ insurance laws.
Alongside the DeSantis endorsement, Leek also received support from Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, U.S. Senator Rick Scott, U.S. Representative Michael Waltz, U.S. Representative Cory Mills, and a slew of organizations including Americans for Prosperity-Florida, the Associated Industries of Florida, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, among others.
Leek, who was first elected to serve House District 25 in 2016, and after redistricting re-elected in House District 28 in 2022, is seeking succeed Sen. Travis Hutson in Senate District 7, who faces term limitations. Leek will now advance to face Democrat nominee George Hill. The district is comprised of Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and parts of Volusia Counties and leans Republican.
In the Florida Legislature, Leek served as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, chaired the Public Ethics and Integrity Committee, the Pandemics and Public Emergencies Committee and the Redistricting Committee.