Recently, Florida State Senate President Mike Haridopolos became the first candidate in the Florida U.S. Senate race to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in a crowded Republican primary field. The winner of the primary will take on the Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson next November.

Although Republicans control both legislative chambers at the state level and the governorship, Democratic national candidates like Presidents Clinton and Obama have managed to pick off victories in this famous swing state in 1996 and 2008, respectively.

While the state tilted slightly Democratic in 2006 with Nelson’s election, 2010 proved a victorious year for the Republican rising star and tea party favorite Marco Rubio. Rubio, who upended Republican Charlie Crist in the 2010 primary, beat the less conservative Crist (who ran as an independent) and Kendrick Meek, the Democratic nominee during the general election.

Nelson, who voted in favor of the controversial “Stimulus” and ObamaCare bills, faces an uphill battle for re-election next November in this Republican-leaning state.

By signing the Pledge, Haridopolos commits to the taxpayers of Florida that he will “oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses … and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.”

Upon Haridopolos signing the Pledge, ATR’s President Grover Norquist had this to say:

I want to congratulate Sen. Haridopolos for taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The American people clearly showed their displeasure last November with the tax-and-spend policies coming from Washington. They want real solutions that create jobs, grow the economy, and cut government spending.

Former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, who is also running in the Senate Republican primary, has also signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

Florida Senate Candidate Mike Haridopolos Signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge

WASHINGTON, DC— Florida State Senate President Mike Haridopolos has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in his race for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat. The Pledge, sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), commits signers to “oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses … and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates."

ATR has offered the Pledge to all candidates for federal office since 1987. To date, 41 U.S. Senators and 236 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, thirteen governors and over 1,200 state legislators have signed the Pledge.

“I want to congratulate Sen. Haridopolos for taking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The American people clearly showed their displeasure in November with the tax-and-spend policies coming from Washington. They want real solutions that create jobs and cut government spending,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR.

“By signing the Pledge, Mike Haridopolos demonstrates that he understands the problems of hard-working taxpayers nationwide, but especially the taxpayers of Florida.”

“I challenge all candidates for federal office to make the same commitment to taxpayers by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge today,” Norquist continued.

Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose all tax increases.  For more information or to arrange an interview please contact John Kartch at (202) 785-0266 or by email at jkartch@atr.org.

[PDF of Press Release]