The Ballot Brief
Manatee County, Florida

Florida House District 71

3 candidates are tracked for Florida House District 71 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ocean Fitts, Joseph Hoolihan and Jordan Varnadore. Candidate information follows official Manatee County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Ocean Fitts (Democratic), Joseph Hoolihan (No Party Affiliation), Jordan Varnadore (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 71. Not on the November ballot: William Cloud "Will" Robinson Jr., the sitting member per the roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the August 18 primary or advanced unopposed; minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates qualify directly for the November ballot. The field is the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot.

Florida › Manatee County › Florida House District 71

Ocean Fitts

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Improving affordability for Manatee County residents
  • Strengthening government accountability

Per The Bradenton Times.

Biography

Ocean Fitts is a candidate for Florida House District 71 in Manatee County, per the campaign site. Fitts was raised by great-grandparents in St. Petersburg after moving from Chicago at age five, and is studying Public Policy and Administration at St. Petersburg College, per the campaign site. Fitts paused college during the pandemic to help care for a great-grandmother living with dementia before returning to finish the degree, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Joseph Hoolihan

No Party Affiliation

Biography

Joseph Hoolihan is a Bradenton real estate professional and business consultant with more than 20 years of experience in sales, customer service and business development, according to the Bradenton Times. He is running for Florida House District 71 with no party affiliation.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Jordan Varnadore

Republican

Biography

Jordan Varnadore is the Republican candidate for Florida House District 71, per his campaign site. He is a lifelong, multi-generational resident of Palmetto in Manatee County and a graduate of Palmetto High School, per his campaign site. Varnadore serves as Vice President of Marketing at GarrettRichard, a family business he co-founded with his father, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Next on your ballotFlorida House District 72

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Florida House District 71 in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for Florida House District 71 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ocean Fitts, Joseph Hoolihan and Jordan Varnadore. Candidate information follows official Manatee County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Florida House District 71 election in Florida?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Florida are on the Florida election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Manatee County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Manatee County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Manatee County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Manatee County ballot

12 tracked races in Manatee County, Florida. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Manatee County Commissioner District 1Manatee County Commissioner District 2Manatee County Commissioner District 4See all 12 Manatee County races
Candidate profiles
Ocean Fitts, full profileJoseph Hoolihan, full profileJordan Varnadore, full profileOfficial Florida election office