Evan Power is an American lobbyist serving as the chair of the Republican Party of Florida since 2024. Power is a lobbyist with the Ramba Consulting Group.[1] He was chair of the Republican Party of Leon County, Florida.[2] Power was the vice chair of the Republican Party of Florida.[3] In January 2024, he was elected in a 135 to 65 vote to succeed Christian Ziegler as the chair.[4][5] He was endorsed by governor Ron DeSantis.[3]
Evan Power | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the Florida Republican Party | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2024* | |
| Preceded by | Christian Ziegler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 15, 1981 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Florida State University (BS, MS) |
| *Power assumed Ziegler's duties on December 17, 2023. | |
Early life and career
editPower is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from Florida State University in 2004 with a degree in Finance. He then went to work for Florida Rep. Marco Rubio, now Florida's senior U.S. senator. During this time Power became active in the Leon County Republican Party. [6]
Power was elected chairman of the Leon County Republican Party in 2012 and assistant treasurer of the Republican Party of Florida 2015. [7]
Under his leadership and despite Leon County’s blue tilt, the local party enjoyed successes including Corey Simon’s win for a state Senate seat not held by Republicans since reconstruction. [8]
In February 2023 Power narrowly lost the race for chairman of the Republican Party of Florida to Christian Ziegler by a 126–100 vote. Power was subsequently elected as vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. [9]
After allegations of sexual misconduct were made against Christian Ziegler, Power called a special board meeting of the Republican Party of Florida executive board in December of 2023. [10] On January 8, 2024 Power was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Florida by a vote of 135-65, coming into the meeting with the endorsements from Florida's biggest Republican figures, including Governor Ron DeSantis, U.S. senator Marco Rubio, Congressman Matt Gaetz and former state party chairs Blaise Ingoglia and Joe Gruters. [11]
Chairmanship
editUnder his leadership the Republican Party of Florida aggressively grew their registration advantage to over 1 Million more voters than the Democrats. [12]
The Republican Party of Florida dominated the 2024 election. Donald Trump's 13 point win was the largest victory for a Presidential Candidate since 1988. Every county shifted red and 6 counties flipped to the Republican side, including Miami Dade County that had not been won for a Republican since 1988. Senator Rick Scott was easily re-elected to the Senate as well. [13] The Party also defended their legislative super majority in the state house for the first time in history. [14]
Personal life
editPower is married to Melissa and has a newborn son.[15]
In 2018, Power was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), after refusing to take a breathalyzer test.[16] The charge was reduced to reckless driving, to which Power pleaded no contest. He was ordered to complete six months of probation and 50 hours of community service.[17]
References
edit- ^ Call, James (February 13, 2024). "Evan Power says being both party chair, lobbyist is natural fit to strengthen Florida GOP". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ Call, James (November 27, 2018). "Is Leon County Republican Party chair Evan Power looking to move on up?". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ a b Turner, Jim (2024-01-08). "Evan Power tapped to replace Christian Ziegler as GOP Chair". WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ Wood, Tristan (2024-01-08). "Tallahassee's Evan Power is the new Florida GOP chairman after Ziegler's ouster". WFSU News. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ Dixon, Matt (2024-01-08). "Florida Republican Party ousts Christian Ziegler as chairman after rape allegation". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ Call, James (February 13, 2024). "Evan Power says being both party chair, lobbyist is natural fit to strengthen Florida GOP". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
- ^ Call, James (November 27, 2018). "Is Leon County Republican Party chair Evan Power looking to move on up?". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
- ^ Ogles, Jacob (February 19, 2023). "Florida Republicans elect Christian Ziegler as State Chair". Florida Politics. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
- ^ Ogles, Jacob (February 19, 2023). "Florida Republicans elect Christian Ziegler as State Chair". Florida Politics. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
- ^ Ogles, Jacob (December 5, 2023). "Evan Power seeks special Florida GOP meeting on Christian Ziegler's future". Florida Politics. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
- ^ Wood, Tristan (2024-01-08). "Tallahassee's Evan Power is the new Florida GOP chairman after Ziegler's ouster". WFSU News. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
- ^ Matat, Stephany (2024-08-12). "Florida now counts 1 million more registered Republican voters than Democrats". AP News. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ Birle, Jack (2024-11-07). "Florida Republicans prove midterm wave was no fluke with sweeping wins". The Gazette. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Butler, Cody (2024-11-07). "GOP maintains supermajority in Florida legislature". WCTV. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Call, James (February 13, 2024). "Evan Power says being both party chair, lobbyist is natural fit to strengthen Florida GOP".
- ^ Call, James (December 13, 2018). "Leon GOP chief Evan Power shelves statewide GOP plans after DUI arrest". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
- ^ Torres, Jennifer (January 22, 2024). "Video showing DUI arrest of newly elected Florida GOP chair surfaces". gulflive.com.