Ben Albritton (born August 17, 1968) is a Republican politician, current member of the

Florida Senate The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida, the Florida House of Representatives being the lower house. Article III, Section 1 of the C ...

and a former member of the

Florida House of Representatives The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida, the Florida Senate being the upper house. Article III, Section 1 of the C ...

, representing the 56th District, which includes DeSoto County, Hardee County, and southwestern Polk County, from 2012 to 2018. Albritton previously represented the 66th District from 2010 to 2012.

History

Albritton was born in Lakeland and attended

Florida Southern College Florida Southern College (Florida Southern, Southern or FSC) is a private college in Lakeland, Florida. In 2019, the student population at FSC consisted of 3,073 students along with 130 full-time faculty members. It offers undergraduate, gradua ...

, where he received a degree in citrus in 1990. Following graduation, he joined his family's citrus grove company, working with his brother and his uncle. Albritton served on the Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association Board from 2002 to 2007, and in 2005, he was appointed to the Florida Citrus Commission by Governor

Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush (born February 11, 1953) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 43rd governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. A member of the Bush family, Bush political family, he was an unsuccessful candidate for pre ...

, where he served until 2010 following reappointment by Governor

Charlie Crist Charles Joseph Crist Jr. ( ; born July 24, 1956) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 44th List of governors of Florida, governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011 and as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. represen ...

, including a tenure as chairman from 2007 to 2010. Additionally, Albritton served on the East Charlotte County Drainage District as a board member.

Florida House of Representatives

When incumbent

State Representative A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United St ...

Baxter Troutman was unable to seek re-election in 2010 due to term limits, Albritton ran to succeed him in the 66th District, which included Hardee County, southern Polk County, and northwestern Highlands County. He faced Chevon Baccus in the Republican primary, whom he significantly outraised, eventually defeating her with 79% of the vote. In the general election, he faced only a write-in opponent, whom he defeated with 99% of the vote. Following his election, Albritton indicated that he intended to run to be

Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives The speaker is the Speaker (politics), presiding member of the Florida House of Representatives. The Speaker and his staff provide direction and coordination to employees throughout the House and serve the members in carrying out their constitut ...

for the 2016-2018 session, but he lost out to

Richard Corcoran Richard Michael Corcoran (born March 16, 1965) is an American politician and Republican Party (United States), Republican, currently serving as the president of the New College of Florida since 2023. Corcoran served as the 27th Education Commiss ...

. In 2012, when the state legislative districts were reconfigured, Albritton was moved to the 56th District, which included most of the territory that he represented in the 66th District. He faced no opposition in the primary or general elections and won his second term entirely uncontested. Albritton was re-elected to his third term in the legislature without opposition in 2014.

Florida Senate

Albritton was elected to the

in 2018. In 2022 Albritton sponsored Senate Bill 2508, a controversial measure which drew the ire of fishing guides and conservationists. Critics called it a last second "sneak attack" that sought to prioritize the supply of water from Lake Okeechobee for industrial sugarcane farmers over the health of the Everglades ecosystem. The measure, filed as a "budget conforming bill," was subject to only one public hearing; though it was approved by the Florida Legislature, it was vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Albritton is Senate President for the 2024-26 term.

References

External links

Florida House of Representatives - Ben Albritton
, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Albritton, Ben 1968 births 21st-century members of the Florida Legislature American citrus farmers Farmers from Florida Florida Southern College alumni Living people People from Lakeland, Florida Republican Party members of the Florida House of Representatives 2024 United States presidential electors