The Ballot Brief
Miami-Dade County, Florida

Florida Senate District 36

2 candidates are tracked for Florida Senate District 36 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ileana Garcia and George Lavin. Candidate information follows official Miami Dade County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Ileana Garcia (Republican), George Lavin (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida Senate District 36; Ileana Garcia is the sitting member, per the Florida Senate' official 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. The sitting officeholder, Ileana Garcia, is on the ballot.

Florida › Miami Dade County › Florida Senate District 36

Ileana Garcia

Ileana Garcia

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Passed legislation aimed at improving water quality in Biscayne Bay
  • Secured state funding for local infrastructure, health care access and senior services

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Ileana Garcia is the Republican state senator for Florida Senate District 36, representing Miami-Dade County, per her campaign site. She has served in the Senate since being elected in 2020, after spending over three decades in radio, television and advocacy, per her campaign site. Garcia serves as Chair of the Appropriations Committee for Criminal and Civil Justice and previously chaired the Children and Families Committee, per her campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

George Lavin

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Lowering costs, including property insurance and utility bills
  • Defending local self-government and community decision-making
  • Transparent, results-oriented public education funding

Per the campaign site.

Biography

George Lavin is a Democratic candidate for Florida Senate District 36, which covers a center-east portion of Miami-Dade County including West Miami, part of Sweetwater and the lower half of Miami Beach. He is a legal discovery consultant from West Miami and the son and grandson of immigrants, according to his campaign site. He faces incumbent Republican Sen. Ileana Garcia in the general election, per Florida Politics.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Next on your ballotFlorida Senate District 38

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Florida Senate District 36 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Florida Senate District 36 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ileana Garcia and George Lavin. Candidate information follows official Miami Dade County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Florida Senate District 36 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 Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Miami-Dade County ballot

16 tracked races in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Florida Senate District 40Florida House District 106Florida House District 108See all 16 Miami-Dade County races
Candidate profiles
Ileana Garcia, full profileGeorge Lavin, full profileOfficial Florida election office