2 candidates are tracked for Florida House District 43 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jorge Malavet and Samuel Vilchez Santiago. Candidate information follows official Orange County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Jorge Malavet (Republican), Samuel Vilchez Santiago (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 43. Not on the November ballot: Johanna López, 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.
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 › Orange County › Florida House District 43
Republican
Per the campaign site.
Jorge Malavet is a retired U.S. Navy Supply Corps officer who served from 1988 to 2008 and later worked in federal service, including at USCIS and DHS. He holds a law degree from Barry University and is the Republican candidate for the open Florida House District 43 seat, left by Rep. Johanna Lopez, per his campaign site.
Democratic
Per the campaign site.
Vilchez Santiago is a senior nonprofit manager at ActBlue and chair of the Orange County Democratic Party since 2023, per the campaign site. He previously served as Florida state director for the American Business Immigration Coalition and as Florida campaign manager for All Voting Is Local, and managed Johanna López's election as the first Latina on the Orange County School Board, per the campaign site. He holds an undergraduate degree from Princeton University and a master's in public policy from the University of Oxford, per the campaign site.
Who is running for Florida House District 43 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Florida House District 43 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jorge Malavet and Samuel Vilchez Santiago. Candidate information follows official Orange County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Florida House District 43 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 Orange 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.
Candidate roster from official Orange 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 Orange County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
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