Mike Hill (American politician)

Hill was born at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, and attended the United States Air Force Academy, from which he graduated in 1980. Following graduation, he joined the United States Air Force, serving from 1980 to 1990. While serving, Hill received the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, and was named the Armament Division Company Grade Officer of the Year in 1988. He moved to Florida in 1985 and attended the University of West Florida, graduating with his MBA in 1988. He then worked as an insurance agent for State Farm Insurance, while serving as a board member for Okaloosa Walton Community College from 1991 to 1996 and West Florida Hospital from 2003 to 2009. Hill also served as the president of the Northwest Florida Tea Party movement from 2010 to 2013.

Following the death of Republican state representative Clay Ford, who had represented the 2nd District since 2007, on March 18, 2013, Hill ran in the special election and defeated Scott Miller, Ed Gray, Mark Taylor, Jack Nobles and David Radcliffe in the Republican primary with 42 percent of the vote. He was endorsed in his primary campaign by the Pensacola News Journal, which declared that his "military experience, passion for open government, and business experience" made him the best candidate.[1] In the general election, he faced Jeremy Lau, the Democratic nominee and a labor union official. Lau received the support of Ed Gray, whom Hill had defeated in the primary, and attacked Hill for not living in the district.[2] However, owing to the district's strong partisan lean, Hill defeated Lau comfortably, having won 58 percent of the vote, which enabled him to become the legislature's only African-American Republican member.[3]

In his campaign for re-election in 2014, Hill faced Lau once again. Hill campaigned for re-election with the full support of the Republican Party of Florida, which declared, "Mike Hill knows what his constituents want. They want someone who will fight for increased spending in education, for reduced taxes, and regulations and that is what Mike Hill represents."[4] He ended up defeating Lau in a landslide once again, winning 65% of the vote to Lau's 35%.

Hill did not seek re-election to the House in 2016, instead facing Doug Broxson in the Republican primary for the District 1 seat in the Florida Senate. Hill was defeated, winning 43.5% of the vote to Broxson's 56.5%.

In 2018, Hill successfully sought election to the Florida House once again, this time representing House District 1. Hill defeated Rebekah Bydlak and Lisa Doss in the Republican primary before defeating Democrat Vikki Garrett in the general election.[5][6]

After taking office, Hill faced controversy when at a public forum, he laughed in response to a question from an audience member who falsely claimed that New Testament penalties for homosexuality included the death penalty. After saying, "the Old Testament says that too," Hill said "imagine how that would go over" if he introduced such legislation.[7]

Hill initially refused to apologize, claiming he was a victim of a "social media lynching."[8] He later issued an apology, citing how the "tone of his response was received,"[9] after public outcry, including from House Speaker Jose Oliva and Rules Committee Chairman Chris Sprowls.[10] Hill was also condemned publicly by openly gay fellow state representative Carlos Smith, who called for him to "apologize" or "resign."[11] Pensacola News Journal columnist Andy Marlette called Hill "unfit for office."[12] He was later removed from the House Public Integrity and Ethics Committee for his comments.[13]

In April 2020, Hill received "significant backlash"[14] for telling a woman who had recently lost her job due to coronavirus that she "shouldn't ask for government permission"[15] to go back to work when the woman asked Hill for assistance with applying for unemployment insurance.[16] Hill's response was called "callous" in local media.[17] Hill had previously been criticized for appearing to make light of the coronavirus crisis by dining in close quarters.[18]

In August 2020, Hill, who was running for re-election for District 1 of the Florida House, lost in the Republican primary to Michelle Salzman with 47.5% of the vote to Salzman's 52.5%.[19]

Hill has made many controversial statements on Twitter and in public. In 2019, it was reported by Newsweek that Hill told an audience that God told him to introduce an abortion bill with no exceptions.[20] Hill was quoted in the Pensacola News Journal telling listeners that "As plain as day, God spoke to me … He said that wasn't my bill, talking about the heartbeat detection bill that I filed. He said that wasn't my bill. I knew immediately what he was talking about. He said, you remove those exceptions and you file it again. And I said yes Lord, I will."[21]

In 2018, he referred to Islam as a "cancer"[22] and a "demonic Muslim horde."[23] Hill also falsely claimed on Twitter in 2018 to have earned the endorsement of President Trump, citing a reference to Michael Jordan.[24] Questions were raised whether this violated Florida campaign law, though formal charges were not filed.[25] In that same campaign, Hill falsely claimed to have brought Trump's star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame to Pensacola.[26]

• Florida House of Representatives – Mike Hill