Rick Scott

Richard Lynn Scott was born on December 1, 1952, in Bloomington, Illinois, and raised in North Kansas City, Missouri. After serving in the United States Navy as a radar technician, he used the G.I. Bill to attend the University of Missouri–Kansas City, where he earned a degree in business administration. He subsequently earned a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University. Scott co-founded Columbia Hospital Corporation in 1987, which eventually merged with other entities to become Columbia/HCA, once the largest private for-profit healthcare company in the United States. Following his business career, he served two terms as the 45th governor of Florida from 2011 to 2019, where he focused on job creation and tax reduction. A member of the Republican Party, Scott was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018, defeating the Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson. He assumed office in January 2019 and was re-elected in 2024. During his Senate tenure, he has served as the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and on several key committees, including the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the Budget, and the Special Committee on Aging.

Rick Scott is a proponent of fiscal conservatism, advocating for balanced federal budgets, national debt reduction, and the implementation of congressional term limits. He gained attention for his 'Rescue America' plan, which proposed that all federal legislation should sunset every five years to require renewal by Congress. On healthcare, Scott supports the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and emphasizes price transparency and competition to lower medical costs. He has also introduced legislation aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on foreign-made pharmaceuticals, specifically from China. His immigration policy prioritizes border security, including the completion of a border wall and ending 'catch and release' policies. In foreign policy, Scott is a vocal critic of the governments in China, Cuba, and Venezuela, while remaining a strong supporter of the U.S.-Israel alliance. Regarding environmental issues, he has championed state and federal funding for Everglades restoration and water quality projects while generally opposing federal carbon regulations.