Mike Haridopolos

Mike Haridopolos (born March 15, 1970) served in the Florida Senate (2003–2012) and was elected President of the Florida Senate from 2010 to 2012.

He presided over the largest Republican Senate majority (28-12) since Reconstruction.

Haridopolos taught United States History and Political Science at Brevard Community College—now Eastern Florida State College—starting in 1993.

In 1998, he co-authored the book 10 Big Issues Facing Our Generation with fellow instructor Dr. Amy Hendricks.

The book includes liberal and conservative viewpoints, and discusses issues such as Medicare, Medicaid, education, taxes, national defense and Social Security.

He also served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2003.

He now operates MJH Consulting, a leading business and political consulting firm in Florida.

He is also a regular news contributor for Fox 35 Orlando on political for both national and state political matters.

Haridopolos received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Stetson University in history and his Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Arkansas.

In 2000, Haridopolos won an open seat in the Florida House, after winning a six-way Republican primary by over 30 percentage points and later won the November general election 65-35%.

As a House freshman, he was recognized as an early leader.

He won the 2002 Republican primary following re-apportionment with over 82% of the vote and was re-elected to the Florida House with 79% of the vote in the general election.

In January 2003, State Senator Howard Futch passed away and special election was called in order to elect a new senator.

Haridopolos won the Republican Party primary with 84% of the vote and won 63% of the vote in the general election to win the remainder of the four-year senate term.

By 2006 many predicted he would be the Lieutenant Governor of Florida as the running mate of Republican nominee Charlie Crist.

In both 2006 and 2010 Haridopolos was re-elected without opposition to the Florida Senate.

Haridopolos actively supported conservative candidates throughout the state in the 2006, 2008, and 2010 election cycles.

In the Florida Senate Haridopolos served as Majority Whip from 2006–2008 and by 2009 was elected to be President of the Senate by his senate colleagues.

Beginning in 2007, Haridopolos taught classes as an instructor at the Bob Graham Center at the University of Florida.

He created an internship program for university students to work in the legislative process at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee.

Students took classes early in the morning then worked in the Governor's office, legislative offices and in different agencies or consulting firms.

Students who participated in the program now work in the legislative process in Florida and around the nation.

In 2008 Haridopolos turned down higher office when he passed on an open Congressional race with the retirement of Congressman Dave Weldon.

Weldon and others asked Haridopolos to run, including the eventual nominee and now Congressman Bill Posey.

Posey stated he would have endorsed Haridopolos if he had sought the seat.

Haridopolos endorsed Posey, and Posey went on to easily win both the Republican primary and General Election in 2008.

Haridopolos said he wanted to focus on his likely role as Senate President and continue his push to make the Florida Senate more conservative.

Haridopolos was sworn in as Senate President on November 16, 2010, for a two-year term.

He presided over the largest Republican majority (28-12) since Reconstruction.

Before being sworn in, Haridopolos made headlines when he removed the doors from his Senate office, making a pledge to be transparent and accessible during his term as President.

Haridopolos is a co-founder of the Freedom Caucus that signs Americans for Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge to "oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes" every year before the Legislature goes into session.

Haridopolos has appeared on Fox News' Huckabee to discuss Transparency Florida, an initiative he led to put the state budget online.

He has also appeared on CNN as a guest of Lou Dobbs and has been featured in Florida Trend magazine as a legislator "...who could shape Florida politics".

He was also recently named by the Hotline as one of six "rising stars" among Republican state legislators.

On July 18, 2011, Haridopolos released a campaign video stating that he would no longer seek the nomination for the 2012 U.S. Senate seat, effectively ending his campaign.

During his six month campaign for U.S. Senate, Haridopolos out-fundraised his Republican opponents, raising a total of $3.6 million.

His candidacy received a number of endorsements, including former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, US Congressman Connie Mack, CFO Jeff Atwater, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

Haridopolos sought the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Bill Nelson in 2012.

The Washington Post has identified Haridopolos as "one of the state Republican Party's rising stars."

The Sunshine State News called him "Telegenic and energetic,…a rising star in the party, a relentless campaigner and a bona fide conservative who would draw a sharp philosophical contrast to Nelson."