June 15, 2012, (Written by Matt Dixon – Florida Times Union). State Sen. John Thrasher, R – St. Augustine, is officially out of the race to become Senate president in 2016. Thrasher is putting his support behind ally state Sen. Joe Negron, R – Stuart, who is in what has already become a bruising race for the Senate’s top spot. “Not much is going to change. I just think we need a solid direction,” he said. “I mean, I still think I’ll be a player [in the Senate].”