For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 4, 2009

– NEGRON IS 15TH SPECIAL ELECTION WIN BY REPUBLICANS SINCE NOV. ‘08 –

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Republican Joe Negron, a former member of the Florida House of Representatives, is headed to the Florida Senate after winning the special election for the open 28th District seat.  Negron’s victory tonight marks the 15th win for Republicans in state legislative special elections across the country – including a victory in Delaware in a Democrat stronghold on Monday of this week.  Overall, Republicans have gained 5 seats in state legislative contests since November 2008.  The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC), the nation’s largest caucus of Republican state leaders, congratulated Negron on his election to the Florida Senate.

“Joe Negron brings a tremendous record of fiscal responsibility and innovative ideas to the Florida Senate from his experience in the House. During the current economic challenges, Joe will be a voice for accountability and individual prosperity,” said Republican State Leadership Committee President Scott Ward.  “Joe’s win is the fifteenth by Republicans in special elections across the country since last fall.  There is no doubt that the people are looking for leaders who understand that they want to get back to work and have the government get out of the way of an economic recovery.”

The RSLC implemented a new media strategy focusing on the special elections in state legislatures across the country – including Florida – to heighten the awareness of the importance of winning these seats.  In addition to Negron’s success tonight, Republicans have won fourteen other special elections for the state legislature since November, including: Tom Kovach from the 6th District of the Del. House, which includes Vice President Joe Biden’s hometown; Joan Huffman came from behind to win in a run-off election for the Texas Senate; Marilinda Garcia in the 4th House District of N.H.; Rosa Rebimbas from the 70th House District of Conn.; and Barry Knight from the 81st House District of Va. in the backyard of DNC Chairman Governor Tim Kaine.

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the only national organization whose mission is electing Republicans to the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State Legislator. The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country – making a national impact one state at a time.  During the 2008 election the RSLC helped maintain the number of Republican Attorneys General and Lieutenant Governors across the U.S. In addition, the RSLC was able to deliver new Republican majorities in the Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee state senates, as well as an unprecedented majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

The RSLC has over 75,000 donors from all 50 states supporting the RSLC’s goals to pursue a pro-growth agenda, including reforming the tax code, healthcare and legal systems; promoting a better educational system; encouraging sound energy initiatives; and advocating public safety through tough, crime-fighting policies.