Not sure this is your district? Enter your ZIP to confirm — and see your full ballot
2026 candidates we're tracking in FL-8
-
Mike Haridopolos
Republican
Incumbent
A U.S. history and political science instructor at what is now Eastern Florida State College and at the University of Florida's Bob Graham Center, Mike Haridopolos served in the Florida House and Senate from 2000 to 2012 and was President of the Florida Senate from 2010 to 2012, per his official House biography. That biography credits him with putting Florida's budget online and with sponsoring the 2008 state constitutional amendment reducing property taxes, and says he founded a business and political consulting company after leaving the Legislature. He was first elected to Congress in 2024 and represents Brevard, Indian River and Orange counties; his campaign site says he serves as chairman of the Space Committee and as a whip on the Financial Services Committee.
-
Jennifer Jenkins
Democratic
Jennifer Jenkins is a speech-language pathologist and former Brevard County School Board member running as a Democrat for Florida's 8th Congressional District, per the Space Coast Rocket's 2026 candidate questionnaire. She resides in Satellite Beach and lists bringing down the cost of living, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and supporting public schools among her top priorities, per that questionnaire. Jennifer Jenkins appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot as the Democratic nominee for FL-8, per the Florida Division of Elections certified candidate list.
About this race
Florida's 8th Congressional District elects one member of the U.S. House of Representatives to a two-year term. Every House seat in the country is on the ballot in 2026. The Florida primary is Tuesday, August 18, 2026, and the general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.