DeSantis Endorses Blaise Ingoglia for FL Senate District 11 in Tense GOP Primary

By Eric Daugherty

Published Mar. 14, 2022, 12:41 p.m. ET | Updated Jan. 2, 2023

March 14th, 2022 Updated 12:41 P.M. ET

TALLAHASSEE (FCV) – Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is exuding his kingmaker influence in his state’s Republican party by endorsing State Representative Blaise Ingoglia (R) for Florida Senate District 11, an embattled seat.

“Blaise Ingoglia (@GovGoneWild) is a strong conservative who fights to keep FL free and to deliver for his constituents,” DeSantis announced on Twitter Monday morning.

“I endorse Blaise for Senate District 11 — he will be a force in the FL Senate and will serve the people of Pasco, Citrus, Hernando and Sumter counties well,” he said.

Blaise Ingoglia (@GovGoneWild) is a strong conservative who fights to keep FL free and to deliver for his constituents.

I endorse Blaise for Senate District 11 — he will be a force in the FL Senate and will serve the people of Pasco, Citrus, Hernando and Sumter counties well.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) March 14, 2022

The endorsement picks Ingoglia over fellow State Representative Ralph Massullo (R), who lives in the new District 11 along with Ingoglia.

According to the new Senate redistricting map, the new District 11 covers Sumter County on the Gulf Coast of Florida, west of Orlando.

According to political consultant Brad Herold, polling conducted by LiveSurvey in January shows that DeSantis endorsements are likely to greatly improve candidates’ chances at winning, with 76% of Republican voters being more likely to vote for a DeSantis-endorsed candidate.

Ingoglia was one of seven Republican members of the Florida House of Representatives who voted against a redistricting map that DeSantis vowed to veto. In DeSantis’ eyes, Ingoglia could be a close ally in the legislature.