We asked Florida Republicans where they stand on ending vaccine mandates

So far, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ first-of-its-kind proposal to end vaccine mandates in school is garnering a tepid response from his Republican political peers in Florida, if any at all.

There have been at least eight Florida Republican lawmakers or political candidates who have weighed in on his Wednesday announcement, either publicly or when contacted by a reporter. The Herald/Times reached out to nine other relevant lawmakers to the debate who didn’t respond or didn’t comment.

The highest profile Florida Republican to break with DeSantis on the vaccines is U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, a former hospital executive who has often disagreed with the governor.

“Florida already has a good system that allows families to opt out based on religious and personal beliefs, which balances our children’s health and parents’ rights,” Scott said, Axios reported.

Scott is the chairman of his chamber’s Special Committee on Aging.

Rep. Alex Andrade, chairman during the last legislative session of the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee, echoed Scott in an interview with the Herald/Times.

“I think the government’s role in this circumstance is well balanced,” Andrade, whose children are vaccinated, said. “We already allow parents who are more skeptical than I am to opt out, and still allow their children to go to school.”

Andrade has clashed repeatedly with DeSantis over his probe into the Hope Florida Foundation following reporting by the Herald/Times. The state-created charity was spearheaded by first lady Casey DeSantis.

Those were the most outspoken Republicans.

House Speaker Daniel Perez from Miami and Senate President Ben Albritton from Bartow, both Republicans, declined to comment to the Herald/Times.

Others gave unclear answers that could be misinterpreted if one isn’t well-versed in state law, which as Andrade and Scott pointed out, gives pretty broad exemptions for parents who want to opt their children out of drug immunization.

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, Florida’s former Republican attorney general who was appointed to her Senate seat by DeSantis, danced around the question in an interview with NewsMax.

Moody said Florida “pushed back” with “reasoned analysis” against vaccine mandates during the Covid-19 pandemic. She predicted state lawmakers would revisit regulation to ensure protection of parental rights “while still maintaining that we have to have a healthy society, and we need to be informing them [parents] of how to do that.”

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the leading Republican candidate for Florida governor in 2026 with President Donald Trump’s support, said it should be left up to parents.

“President Trump has done a great job bringing the [Make America Healthy Again] MAHA conversation forward,” Donalds said in a statement on X. “I believe parents should be empowered to make vaccination decisions for their children.”

Former Republican Rep. David Jolly, now the only established Democratic candidate for governor, criticized Donalds’ statement and said he would fire the Surgeon General for promoting the anti-vaccine policy.

Donalds was “risking lives right now by validating DeSantis and Ladapo because he’s too worried about his own GOP primary. He’s weak,” Jolly said on X. “Fire Ladapo. Protect our kids. Join our campaign.”

Paul Renner, the former House Speaker from Palm Harbor who is also running in the Republican primary for governor, was also unclear on his position in a statement to the Herald/Times.

“As Speaker, I opposed mandatory covid vaccines and supported strong parental rights legislation. Parents should not be forced to have their children take a vaccine that they think is unsafe. However, we should have safe and effective vaccines that save lives,” Renner said.

Renner is a DeSantis ally, but his bid for governor was dismissed Wednesday by the governor, who said hours after Renner announced his campaign that he didn’t support it.

Sen. Gayle Harrell, recent vice chairwoman of the Florida Senate Health Policy Committee, told the Herald/Times in a brief interview that she would need to see the proposal before commenting.

“I do have some questions,” Harrell said. She didn’t elaborate.

Sen. Colleen Burton, the recent chairwoman of the same Senate panel from Winter Haven, didn’t respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

Rep. Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor, was the chair of the House Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee last session. He said he can’t take a position without knowing what’s on the table, but said that many members in the House, including himself, “are in favor of medical freedom.”

Rep. Fabian Basabe, the recent vice chairman of the Florida House Human Services Subcommittee from Miami Beach, said in a statement to the joint news bureau that he welcomed the conversation and expressed apparent skepticism about biased information from drug companies.

“As this moves into committee, I hope money is spent wisely on providing real information and facts, not just on marketing or lobbying that profits big industries,” Basabe said. “Lawmakers and families alike need to be properly informed and educated, and we need to hear from one another.”

Republican lawmakers relevant to the debate who didn’t answer a request for comment in time for publication include:

U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, a Republican and physician from Panama City who serves as vice chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee

Sen. Erin Grall, a Vero Beach Republican who served last legislative session as chairwoman of the Florida Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee

Sen. Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican who served last legislative session as chairman of the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education, and who sponsored past legislation limiting Covid-vaccine mandates

Rep. Kaylee Tuck, a Lake Placid Republican who served last legislative session as chairwoman of the Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee

Rep. Josie Tomkow, a Polk City Republican who served last legislative session as chairwoman of the Florida House Health and Human Services Committee

Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, a Fort Myers Republican who served last legislative session as chairwoman of the Florida House PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee.

Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau Reporters Romy Ellenbogen and Lawrence Mower, and Tampa Bay Times staff reporter Kirby Wilson contributed to this report.

This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 8:13 PM.