Sabatini Mulling State Senate Run

    State Representative Anthony Sabatini may soon be a candidate for Senate District 22 (SD 22). A solid Republican seat, the district will be vacated this year with Kelli Stargel term limited. Southern Lake County and parts of Polk County compose the lion's share of the district. Following the conclusion of the 2020 census, the battlefield for all legislative races in 2022 will be determined by the state legislature this year and SD 22 may be slated again as a Republican stronghold, according to reports.

    Many GOP politicos view State Rep. Sabatini's possible entrance in the race as a catalyst for his ascent to higher political office, beyond even state politics. A force to be reckoned with, Sabatini wields the power of name recognition, financial prowess and personal mettle. “Love him or hate him, if Sabatini gets in a Senate primary he has to be taken seriously,” GOP lobbyist Jon Costello told the Capitolist. “If the election is about who will carry the Trump agenda forward in Florida it’s hard to out do him.”

    One model for redistricting puts Lake county (known by supporters as "Sabatini country") as the majority stakeholder in the district. Clermont and Groveland, the urban centers of Lake County, encompass two of the most saturated cities in the area. With a population around 387,000 and a lofty 4.2% annual rate of growth, Lake County easily musters the fuel to propel Sabatini to the the upper chamber.

    An Army National Guard officer, Sabatini's constituents think highly of their Representative, with a recent approval rating in his current State House district hitting an all time high at 57.6%, according to a recent poll commissioned by The Orlando Local News. Boasting over 51,000 followers on Twitter, and 18,000 followers on Facebook, Sabatini's public rapport with his supporters rivals that of Members of Congress and even some news personalities.

    With this platform, Sabatini pushes his Republican colleagues to the right and engages in skirmish after skirmish with "blue check-marked" celebrities. Sabatini spends many of his days drafting legislation to advance conservative causes, including a recent bill to prevent abuse at the hands of parents seeking to force genitial reconstructive surgury on their children.

    Advancing the issues his constituents care most about, and with their fervent backing, Sabatini seems poised for action in '22. Though support for Sabatini remains high, he has not revealed his final verdict. According to reports, the Capitolist reached out to Sabatini in regard to grapevine rumors of his potential entrance and the Representative indicated "strong interest" in the seat. For now, the residents of SD 22 will wait for their favorite son come down with a decision.