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In the second similar endorsement in recent days, incoming Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, on Monday backed Rep. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, in a primary contest for an open Senate seat. Fine faces two other Republicans and a Democrat seeking to replace term-limited Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Indialantic, in Brevard County’s Senate District 19. Albritton, who will become Senate president after the November elections, is an influential figure who can direct large amounts of money to candidates as chairman of the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee.
“Randy Fine has unapologetically fought for the shared conservative values that continue to preserve freedom and opportunity for all Floridians,” Albritton said in a prepared statement Monday. “He has stood on the front lines to protect parental rights in education and to keep our families safe in the face of ever-evolving dangers.” Republicans Robyn Hattaway and Chuck Sheridan and Democrat Vance Ahrens also have opened campaign accounts to run for the Senate seat. On Thursday, Albritton endorsed Rep. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, in a race for an open seat in Senate District 13, which is made up of Lake County and part of Orange County.