LEE COUNTY, Fla. — There is growing division in Florida’s Republican Party tonight as top Lee County Republicans are accusing their Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee of making our elections unsafe.
Executive committee members have a whole list of gripes with the state’s Republican lawmakers.
They’ve drafted two resolutions claiming party leaders aren’t conservative enough and they claim elections will be less safe.
Michael Peters drafted the resolution for the Lee County executive committee members to consider. He said the supermajority no longer apparently needs to listen to their constituents.
He argues that SB 7050, signed by the governor, makes elections less safe and alleges noncitizens could end up voting. A claim that Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle vehemently denied.
Doyle admitted since the state eliminated a federal voter database known as ERIC, it’s up to his office to find unqualified voters.
“We have taken that to the forefront from the clerk’s office to vet those immediately,” Doyle responded.
The Lee County Executive Committee wants the governor to call a special legislative session to address their concerns.
“There is absolutely zero chance that the governor is going to call a special session based on this resolution,” responded Republican State Representative Spencer Roach.
Roach also reacted to claims from his own party members that Republican state leaders aren’t conservative enough.
“They’re voting to condemn the entire Florida legislature without even bothering to speak to their representatives. It’s just chaos,” Roach stated.
Democratic State Representative Anna Eskamani, who opposes SB 750, was surprised to see Republicans disagreeing with Governor Ron DeSantis.
“I find it a unique position to be in where Democrats and the local Republican Party in Lee County can find some alignment that this bill is a bad bill, maybe for different reasons,” Eskamani said.
The governor’s office was contacted for reaction to the executive committee’s concerns but they did not respond.