Jeff Brandes

Jeffrey P. Brandes (born February 12, 1976) is an American politician who served as the Florida State Senator from the 24th district since 2016. A member of the Republican Party, he has been elected from the Pinellas County area to the Florida Senate since 2012, representing the 22nd district from 2012 to 2016. Brandes previously served as the Florida State Representative for the 52nd district from 2010 to 2012.

Jeff Brandes
Member of the
Florida Senate
In office
November 6, 2012 – November 8, 2022
Preceded byRedistricted
Constituency22nd district (2012–2016)
24th district (2016–2022)
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 52nd district
In office
November 2, 2010 – November 6, 2012
Preceded byBill Heller
Succeeded byRedistricted
Personal details
Born (1976-02-12) February 12, 1976
St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma materMarion Military Institute (AA)
Carson-Newman College (BS)
ProfessionReal estate
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army Reserve
Years of service1996–2007
Battles/warsIraq War

Early life and education

A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, Brandes served in the United States Army Reserve as a transportation officer from 1996 to 2007 following his graduation from the Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama in 1996 and while he attended Carson-Newman College, from which he graduated in 1999 with a degree in business administration. From 2003 to 2004, Brandes served in the Iraq War, for which he earned a Combat Action Badge.

Political career

In 2010, Brandes ran for the Florida House of Representatives from the 52nd district, which was based in Pinellas County, challenging incumbent Democratic State Representative Bill Heller. In a good year for Republicans nationwide and statewide, Brandes narrowly defeated Heller, winning over him with 51% of the vote.

Following the reconfiguration of Florida Senate districts in 2012, Brandes opted to run in the 22nd district, which encompassed the southern part of Pinellas County and South Tampa, rather than seek a second term in the House. In the Republican primary, he faced fellow State Representative James Frishe. Brandes was endorsed by former Governor Jeb Bush;[1] he defeated Frishe with 56% of the vote. He was unopposed in the general election.

In 2016, he ran unopposed in both the primary and general election in the 24th district. During the 2018 general election, Jeff Brandes defeated Lindsay Cross for his reelection in the 24th district.[2] While serving in the Senate, Brandes, an opponent of red-light cameras, attached a provision onto highway safety legislation that would "require the cities and counties [that have cameras] to create an administrative appeals process for motorists who contest the initial red-light camera violations."[3] Additionally, he sponsored legislation that was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott dealing with the "pension plans that cover public safety workers"; the legislation was strongly opposed by police and firefighter unions, who warned that it would "cause a spike in pension costs."[4]

Brandes received a 114.3% (A+) score from Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group funded by the billionaire Koch Brothers. He was the #1 rated legislator by far for AFP in Florida.[5]

Brandes's district was reconfigured and renumbered after court-ordered redistricting in 2016. It now includes only portions of the southern part of Pinellas County. On March 3, 2018, Brandes rejected a two-year moratorium on the sale of AR-15s.

He voted yea for controversial Senate Bill 86 in 2021.[6]

Brandes opposed a 2022 bill that would repeal no-fault auto insurance, describing support for the bill as "legislative malpractice".[7] He also voted with Democrats on the repeal of the Reedy Creek Improvement Act, meaning he voted against the repeal measure.[8]

In March 2022, Brandes voted for HB 5, which prohibits abortion after 15 weeks.[9] The bill was later signed into law.

Brandes was unable to run for reelection in 2022 due to term-limits.

References
  1. Smith, Adam C. (August 1, 2012). "Jeb Bush appears in new Jeff Brandes ad for Fla Sen". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  2. "Florida State Senate District 24". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  3. Dunkelberger, Lloyd (June 13, 2013). "Scott approves changes to red-light camera rules". Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  4. Bousquet, Steve (May 31, 2013). "Gov. Scott signs pension bill opposed by police and fire unions". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  5. "Americans for Prosperity Florida Economic Freedom Scorecard 2016 Legislative Session" (PDF). Americans for Prosperity.
  6. "Florida Senate Vote Record, Senate Bill 86, 2021 Regular Session" (PDF).
  7. Sexton, Christine (2022-02-02). "Jeff Brandes says pushing new PIP bill without new actuarial analysis is 'legislative malpractice'". Florida Politics. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  8. Call, James (April 21, 2022). "A smaller world for Disney? Florida lawmakers revoke special self-governing status". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022.
  9. "CS/HB 5 (2022) - Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality | Florida House of Representatives".
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