Who's In the Race

Incumbent Republican Mike Haridopolos faces Democrat Jennifer Jenkins in Florida's 8th U.S. House District.

Haridopolos served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2003 and in the Florida Senate from 2003 to 2012, where his colleagues elected him Senate president from 2010 to 2012, according to his campaign website. Jenkins describes herself as an educator and former Brevard County School Board member; a third-party candidate profile also identifies her as an attorney, per SmarterVote. Jenkins's campaign says she grew up in a working-class family, is the daughter of a corrections officer and a mother living with a disability, and that she and her husband have both worked multiple jobs, according to her campaign site.

Haridopolos won the district's 2024 general election with 62.2 percent of the vote. In 2022, Republican Bill Posey carried the same seat with 64.9 percent.

What They Stand For

Haridopolos says he would prioritize the national and local economy, according to his issues page. He says he would support law enforcement and veterans and the military. Haridopolos supports term limits and says he would work to reduce the national debt. He says he would oppose illegal immigration and what he calls the "weaponization of justice."

Jenkins describes herself as a "common-sense fighter for Florida's families," per her campaign site. She supports expanding Medicaid so Floridians are less likely to rely on emergency care or incur medical debt, according to her priorities page. Jenkins supports restoring and strengthening Affordable Care Act subsidies to lower health-insurance premiums and protecting coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. She also supports investing in access to mental-health care. Jenkins describes education and children's opportunity as central to her public work.

The Money Behind the Race

Outside spending in Florida's 8th District race totals $22,347 in pending notices as of Oct. 5, with no confirmed disbursed independent expenditures yet reported, according to the race record.

Stand for Freedom PAC leads outside activity with $22,334 in pending spending associated with Haridopolos, followed by Equality Florida Action Inc. with $13 in pending spending associated with Jenkins. These committee totals reflect overall activity and do not indicate whether spending supports or opposes a candidate.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections all rate the race "Solid Republican," as of Sept. 25, Sept. 29, and Oct. 2, respectively. On Kalshi, the prediction market gave Haridopolos a 91 percent chance of winning and Jenkins an 8.6 percent chance, as of Oct. 5.

Republicans won the district in both 2022 and 2024. The cited records show 20 winners from the Republican Party and 8 from the Democratic Party. Donald Trump carried Florida in the 2024 presidential election with 56.1 percent of the vote.

Voters in Florida's 8th District should check official sources for key logistics before the general election. The voter-registration deadline, early-voting dates and hours, and Election Day polling hours for the Nov. 3 general election had not yet been published as of Oct. 5, according to the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections. Early-voting dates and hours are set by each county Supervisor of Elections and may vary from county to county.

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