Joseph Abruzzo

History

Abruzzo attended Lynn University, where he served as President of the Student Government Association and was appointed by the Boca Raton City Council to the Boca Raton Education Advisory Board. He graduated with a degree in international communications in 2003, and joined the United States Coast Guard Reserve later that year, where he worked as a port security specialist.

Florida House of Representatives

In 2005, State Representative Anne M. Gannon announced that she would run for the Florida Senate rather than seek re-election in 2006. Abruzzo ran to succeed her in the 86th District, which included Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and Delray Beach in eastern Palm Beach County. However, when Gannon suspended her Senate campaign to instead seek re-election, Abruzzo switched races, instead opting to challenge Republican Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty. However, when Gannon again announced that she would not seek re-election to run for Palm Beach County Tax Collector, Abruzzo dropped out of the race against McCarty to run to succeed Gannon, noting, "I have been interested in serving in the legislature from day one." Abruzzo's last-minute decision not to run against McCarty allowed her to win re-election unopposed, causing Palm Beach County Democratic Chairman Wahid Mahmood to criticize Abruzzo and question his party loyalty. Abruzzo faced Maria Sachs, Mark Alan Siegel, and Harriet Lerman in the Democratic primary, and despite a close campaign, ultimately lost to Sachs, receiving 26% of the vote to her 34%.

State Representative Shelley Vana opted against seeking re-election in 2008 to instead run for the Palm Beach County Commission. Abruzzo ran to succeed her in the 85th District, which included Lake Worth and Wellington. He won the Democratic primary unopposed, and faced Howard Coates, an attorney and the Republican nominee, in the general election. Abruzzo was endorsed by Republican Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty, whom he declined to challenge in 2006, as a "pro-business Democrat." Abruzzo ended up defeating Coates handily, winning his first term in the legislature with 57% of the vote to Coates' 43%.

During his first term in the legislature, Abruzzo worked with State Senator Dave Aronberg to author "Nicole's Law," a piece of legislation requiring "horseback riders 16 and younger to wear a helmet when riding on public roads and rights of way and while taking riding lessons," following the death of a teenage girl in Loxahatchee. Following the resignation of Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty, who had endorsed Abruzzo in 2008, following corruption charges, Abruzzo called for a state legislative review of county government, noting, "The serious and unfortunate events which have occurred have shaken the public's confidence in their county government."

When he ran for re-election in 2010, Abruzzo faced Tami Donnally, a ministry administrator and the Republican nominee. Donnally attacked Abruzzo for his opposition to a state constitutional amendment that aimed to prevent the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's insurance mandate from being enforced in Florida, while Abruzzo campaigned on his accomplishments in the legislature. Abruzzo narrowly defeated Donnally to win re-election, receiving 53% of the vote to her 47%

Florida Senate

In 2012, following the reconfiguration of the state's legislative districts, Abruzzo opted to run for the Florida Senate rather than seek re-election. He won the Democratic primary unopposed in the 25th District, and faced Melanie Peterson, a horse broker and the Republican nominee. Despite the district's Democratic lean, the Republican Party of Florida targeted the race, viewing it as a potential pickup opportunity. Abruzzo campaigned on his legislative record, which included passing twenty bills in four years, while Peterson presented herself as an outsider. She attacked him for his proposed 2013 legislative priorities, which included a texting while driving ban, increased funding for foreign-language education in public schools, and animal rights legislation. The Palm Beach Post endorsed Abruzzo over Peterson, citing his opposition to Governor Rick Scott's proposal to eliminate the state income tax and education cuts. The Sun-Sentinel concurred, noting that while Peterson "shows promise as a first-time candidate," Abruzzo "has a track record that fits this new district" and his "experience and productivity gives him a sizeable edge." Despite the perceived closeness of the race, Abruzzo won election to the Senate by a wide margin, winning 57% of the vote to Peterson's 43%.

During his tenure in the Senate, Abruzzo worked with State Representative Dave Kerner to author legislation that severed the "parental rights of a rapist if a child is conceived as the result of the attack," which unanimously passed both chambers of the legislative and was signed by Governor Rick Scott. He sponsored legislation that would have prevented discrimination against members of the LGBT community in employment, housing, or public accommodations, though it died in the Senate Judiciary Committee.