Anthony Sabatini | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of theLake County Commission from the 1st district | |
| Assumed office November 12, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Doug Shields |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 32nd district | |
| In office November 6, 2018 – November 8, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Larry Metz |
| Succeeded by | Thad Altman |
| Member of theEustisCity Commission from Seat 2 | |
| In office January 1, 2017 – April 30, 2018 | |
| Succeeded by | Michael Holland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anthony Frank Sabatini (1988-10-20)October 20, 1988 (age 37) Smithtown, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (formerly) |
| Spouse | Francheska Sabatini |
| Residence | Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida[1] |
| Education | University of Florida (BA,JD) |
| Website | Official website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Florida Army National Guard |
| Rank | Captain |
Anthony Frank Sabatini (born October 20, 1988) is an Americanfar-right[2] politician, attorney, andFlorida Army National Guard officer serving as aLake County commissioner since 2024. A member of theRepublican Party, he previously served in theFlorida House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022. Once a strong supporter of PresidentDonald Trump,[3][4] Sabatini has been acritic of Donald Trump since his endorsement ofDaniel Webster over Sabatini in2024.[5][6][7]
A native ofNew York, Sabatini graduated from theUniversity of Florida with a bachelor's degree and received hisJuris Doctor from theLevin College of Law in 2017. While in law school, Sabatini was elected to thecity commission ofEustis, Florida in 2016; serving until his resignation to run for the Florida House of Representatives in 2018. In2022, he was an unsuccessful candidate inFlorida's 7th congressional district Republican primary, losing toCory Mills. In2024, Sabatini was an unsuccessful candidate forFlorida's 11th congressional district, withdrawing his candidacy after President Trump endorsed his opponent.[5][8][9] That same day, he filed to run for Lake County Commission.[8][9]
In August 2024, Sabatini narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Doug Shields in the Lake County Commission's 1st district election. In November 2024, he considered running forFlorida's 6th congressional district in the2025 special election until President Trump endorsed state senatorRandy Fine.[10] Later that month, Sabatini reaffirmed his intention to run forCongress in the future.[10]
Sabatini has espoused a variety ofright-wing stances, including opposition toabortion,gun control,DEI, andLGBTQ rights. His more controversial views include his support forFrancisco Franco andChristian nationalism, his promotion ofclimate change denial andfalse claims of electoral fraud in 2020, and hisopposition to vaccination.
Sabatini was born inSmithtown, New York, in 1988 and moved with his family to Florida the following year.[11] In a high school photo, Sabatini and a friend were pictured inblackface.[12][13] In his freshman year of college, he was photographed inbrownface.[14][15] He earned bachelor's degrees in philosophy and history from theUniversity of Florida in 2012 and aJuris Doctor from theUniversity of FloridaFredric G. Levin College of Law in 2017.[16]
In 2023,The Daily Beast revealed Sabatiniplagiarized his undergraduate thesis, copying many statements fromWikipedia.[17]
Sabatini is an infantry officer in theFlorida Army National Guard. He was appointed to the City of Eustis Code Enforcement Board and later elected to theEustis City Commission in 2016 and resigned from the office on April 30, 2018, to focus on his campaign for the Florida House of Representatives.[18][19]
Sabatini defeated Monica Wofford and Shannon Elswick, to win the August 28, 2018 Republican primary, winning 46.7% of the vote.[20] In the November 6, 2018 general election, Sabatini defeatedDemocrat Cynthia Brown, taking 56.48% of the vote.[21][22]
In 2019, Sabatini proposed amendments to make the Swamp Restaurant in Gainesville alandmark to protect it from demolition.[23][24] The restaurant was temporarily closed, but not demolished, and eventually returned.[25]
On January 13, 2020, Sabatini introduced HB 1365, which would have made it a felony for doctors to providehormone therapy orgender reassignment surgery fortransgender minors.[26]
In 2020, Sabatini introduced legislation allowing Floridians with validconcealed carry licensed to carry firearms on public colleges and universities.[27][28][29]
Sabatini has sponsored legislation to enshrine eight-yearterm limits for Florida'sschool boards.[30][31][32][33]
Sabatini has introduced legislation to banred light cameras in Florida.[34][35][36]
During his tenure in the House, theOrlando Sentinel described Sabatini as "the worst person in theFlorida Legislature."[37][38]
In 2021, he became a fellow of theClaremont Institute.[39]
On March 8, 2021, Sabatini announced that he would challenge incumbent Republican representativeDaniel Webster forFlorida's 11th congressional district. He later suggested he might not wind up running against Webster due toredistricting.[40] On June 7, 2021, he announced he would challenge incumbent Democratic representativeStephanie Murphy forFlorida's 7th congressional district due to redistricting.[41]
In August 2022, Sabatini lost the Republican primary to businessmanCory Mills.[42]
In April 2023, Sabatini declared his candidacy for the U.S House of Representatives, again challenging incumbent Daniel Webster for the Republican nomination for Florida's 11th congressional district.[43] During the campaign, Sabatini characterized Webster as "senile" and accused him of being a "RINO".[9]
In June 2024, Sabatini withdrew from the race afterPresident Trump endorsed Webster.[44]
In December 2022, Sabatini was elected chair of theLake County Republican Party.[45]
In December 2024, Sabatini stepped down as county party chair and endorsedCarey Baker for the position, who was defeated byTaylor Yarkosky.[1] In February 2025, Sabatini criticized Yarkosky's leadership and called for a new county party chair.[46]
In August 2025, Sabatini filed a lawsuit, on behalf ofprecinct committeewoman Autumn Jacunski, which alleged Jacunski was "physically battered" by county party vice chair Mike Trainor during an event attended by Lieutenant GovernorJay Collins, claiming her hand was intentionally slammed in a door.[47] Shortly after, a three-minute video of the event was released showing Sabatini sent Jacunski into the building to inform attendees he was barred from entry, saying:
Go in there and tell every single f—ing person that this meeting needs to end right now,... Do not let them call this meeting because these three people said they are going to arrest me and throw me in jail, a sitting County Commissioner, if I walk in the building.[48]
Later in the video, Jacunski approached the entrance and became "confrontational" with Trainor.[48] When the door was shut, Trainor was not looking at the door; Jacunski appeared unhurt and walked away from the entrance.[48] Police were called to investigate, but no arrests were made.[48] In a statement to the press,State Attorney Bill Gladson responded to the event, saying: "prosecution is extremely unlikely" and "this whole situation could have been avoided if those involved would have just acted like adults instead of children. Everyone should be embarrassed. Lake County deserves better."[49]
Less than one hour after withdrawing his second candidacy for Congress, Sabatini announced his candidacy for the LakeCounty Commission.[9] In August 2024, he was elected to the Lake County Commission, narrowly defeating incumbent Republican Doug Shields.[50] On November 12, Sabatini was formally sworn into office.[51]
As county commissioner, Sabatini has proposed renaming a road in his district afterCharlie Kirk, followinghis assassination.[52]
In May 2025, Sabatini lost his bid to becomecity attorney ofMilton, Florida inSanta Rosa County.[53][54][55] On May 14, he was chosen as city attorney ofTreasure Island, Florida inPinellas County, succeeding Jennifer Cowan.[56][55]
Sabatini is currently a member of theRepublican Party. He was previously aregistered member of theDemocratic Party.[57]
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Sabatini isanti-abortion, calling for an "abortion ban" fromconception.[58]
Sabatini rejects thescientific consensus onclimate change and has called for theexecution ofclimate change activists.[59]
Sabatini has opposedgun control in the United States and has supportedunrestricted carry legislation to allow Floridians to carryconcealed firearms without first acquiring a permit. Sabatini described permit requirements as a requirement for persons "to beg government permission and pay money for the exercise of their fundamental God-given right."[60] Sabatini introduced constitutional carry legislation in 2020, 2021, and 2022; the legislation was endorsed by Republican governorRon DeSantis but did not pass the Republican-controlled legislature; Sabatini criticized several fellow Republicans for failing to back the bill.[61][62]
Sabatini is opposed tosame-sex marriage,LGBTQ rights, andtransgender rights in the United States.[58][26] He has referred toLGBTQ pride as "anti-Christian" and called to "crush"Pride month for being "anti-American."[63]
| This article is part ofa series on |
| Christian nationalism in the United States |
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Sabatini is self-describedChristian nationalist.[64] He has spoken at multiple rallies to "spread Christian nationalism" alongside GeneralMike Flynn.[65][66] In 2022, Sabatini posted onFacebook: "only when Christians stand up & get loud, will we take this country back."[66]
Sabatini is opposed todiversity, equity, and inclusion. Following the fatalFrancis Scott Key Bridge collapse, Sabatini tweeted "DEI did this".[67] His remarks were characterized asracist by the press and state senatorShevrin Jones quote-tweeted Sabatini, saying: "I guess DEI is the new'N' word".[67]
Sabatini has called to ban allimmigration to the United States except fromItaly.[68]
In 2019, Sabatini was the lone Republican co-sponsor of a bill that wouldlegalize therecreational use ofcannabis in Florida for residents aged 21 and older.[69]
Sabatini has made multiple critical statements of "cancel culture", tweeting that, "IfSocrates was out philosophizing in American society today, he would be cancelled real quick".[70] He has called for repealingSection 230 of the Communications Decency Act, arguing that it allows online platforms to remove conservative perspectives.[71]
Sabatini has proposed renaming the Florida section ofU.S. Route 27 the "PresidentDonald J. Trump Highway".[72] During Trump's reelection bid announcement in Orlando on June 18, 2019, a rally goer attacked anOrlando Sentinel reporter filming the event. The reportertweeted the encounter, to which Sabatini replied "MAGA," for which he was again criticized for supporting violence.[73]
Sabatini has repeatedly supportedRepublican attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to DemocratJoe Biden. He has repeated disproven conspiracy theories about the election, and has called for audits of the results inHillsborough County,Miami-Dade County,Broward County,Palm Beach County, andOrange County.[74]
Following the FBI'sAugust 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago, Sabatini said Florida should "sever all ties withDOJ immediately" and added that "any FBI agent conducting law enforcement functions outside the purview of our State should be arrested upon sight".[75]
After President Trump endorsed Sabatini's primary opponent in2024, Sabatini has been a critic of Donald Trump.[5]
In July 2020, a Florida resident filed an ethics complaint against Sabatini in connection with his involvement in several mask mandate lawsuits.[76] The complaint was in response to a press release about the lawsuit that printed Sabatini's official House email address as the press contact and alleged that this violates a Florida State Statute about misuse of public position.[76]
Sabatini has filed at least 14 lawsuits during theCOVID-19 pandemic challenging local ordinances requiring the use offace coverings.[77] On September 2, 2020, he received his sixth loss from the filed suits that have so far been heard.[78]
In September 2025, Sabatini called to abolish allvaccine mandates in Florida.[79][80]
In response to theprotests following themurder of George Floyd, Sabatini posted a tweet that suggested that protesters who unlawfully enter businesses would be met with anAR-15 rifle; he posted a similar suggestion on hisFacebook page with the caption "Don't Tread on Me".[81] The sentiment was widely condemned, with Florida State RepresentativeCindy Polo deriding it as "clearly inflammatory" and "inciting violence".[82]Nikki Fried, Florida Agriculture Commissioner, called for Sabatini to be reprimanded. House SpeakerJosé Oliva found no "direct or preemptive threat" in Sabatini's comments and did not take punitive actions.[83] Sabatini also drew criticism from Florida state senatorShevrin Jones for referring toBlack Lives Matter protesters in Minneapolis as "disgusting, lawless thugs" in a tweet calling for their arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment.[84]
During the trial ofKyle Rittenhouse, following the shooting and death of three men in Kenosha, WI, Sabatini tweeted "KYLE RITTENHOUSE FOR CONGRESS."[85]
In 2017, Sabatini wrote anopen letter as city commissioner, saying: "to any cities or counties that would like to donate theirConfederate monuments to the City of Eustis, we will gladly accept and proudly display our nation's history."[86] In 2019, Sabatini supported the relocation of aConfederate statue fromWashington, D.C. toTavares, Florida.[87]
In 2022, Sabatini called todefund theFederal Bureau of Investigation, saying: "I think every single candidate and elected official in the GOP right now needs to go on record pledging to defund these lawless agencies."[88]
Sabatini criticized PresidentJoe Biden's pledge to nominate a Black woman to theU.S. Supreme Court following JusticeStephen Breyer's announcement that he would retire, tweeting, "Biden MUST be impeached for his anti-white racist exclusion of any white nominee to the Supreme Court".[89][90]
In 2022, Sabatini quotedSpanish dictatorFrancisco Franco on Twitter, tweeting that “I answer only to God and to History.” In response to criticism of Sabatini's tweet, Sabatini posted a picture of Franco with PresidentDwight Eisenhower and stated that critics of his tweet were "extremely un-American."[91]
Following theattack on Paul Pelosi,The New York Times accused Sabatini of spreading misinformation when he suggested that the Pelosi family was hiding vital information about the attack.[92]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Anthony Sabatini | 3,414 | 46.1 | |
| Nonpartisan | Brandon Avallone | 1,186 | 16 | |
| Nonpartisan | Michael Strong | 2,804 | 37.8 | |
| Total votes | 7,404 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Anthony Sabatini | 8,278 | 46.7 | |
| Republican | Shannon Elswick | 5,170 | 29.2 | |
| Republican | Monica Wofford | 4,276 | 24.1 | |
| Total votes | 17,724 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Anthony Sabatini | 46,446 | 56.5 | ||
| Democratic | Cynthia Brown | 35,784 | 43.5 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Anthony Sabatini | 63,164 | 55.7 | ||
| Democratic | Stephanie Dukes | 50,226 | 44.3 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cory Mills | 27,452 | 38.1% | |
| Republican | Anthony Sabatini | 17,059 | 23.6% | |
| Republican | Brady Duke | 11,010 | 15.3% | |
| Republican | Ted Edwards | 4,197 | 5.8% | |
| Republican | Russell Roberts | 3,970 | 5.5% | |
| Republican | Erika Benfield | 3,912 | 5.4% | |
| Republican | Scott Sturgill | 3,055 | 4.2% | |
| Republican | Al Santos | 1,480 | 2.1% | |
Sabatini isItalianCatholic. He is married to his wife Francheska, who unsuccessfully ran forcounty judge in 2024.[94][50] They live inLake County, Florida.
| Florida House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theFlorida House of Representatives from the 32nd district 2018–2022 | Succeeded by |
