After Representative Chris Dorworth’s defeat in the 2012 election, Representative Steve Crisafulli (R-Merritt Island) emerged as the Republican Party leader in the Florida House. The Democrats stripped Representative Darryl Rouson (D- St. Petersburg) of his position as the next Democratic leader, replacing him with Representative Mark Pafford (D- West Palm Beach) at a House Caucus meeting on September 25th.