--- title: "Jenkins vs. Haridopolos: 2026 Florida’s 8th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-fl-08" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Florida’s 8th District race: Jennifer Jenkins (D) vs. Mike Haridopolos (R) Rating: Likely R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 Florida's 8th Congressional District general election features Republican incumbent Mike Haridopolos and Democratic challenger Jennifer Jenkins. Haridopolos assumed office in January 2025 after previously serving as Florida Senate President, while Jenkins is a former Brevard County School Board member. The race hinges on economic affordability, border security, space exploration funding, environmental restoration of the Indian River Lagoon, and federal healthcare policy. ## Candidates - **Jennifer Jenkins** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://jenkinsforfl.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Jenkins) - **Mike Haridopolos** (Republican, incumbent) · [Campaign site](https://www.mike4congress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Haridopolos) ## Issues ### Economy and Cost of Living Salience: high Jenkins advocates for targeted federal intervention to lower insurance and consumer costs, whereas Haridopolos emphasizes deregulation, tax cuts, and federal spending reduction. **Jennifer Jenkins:** Supports property insurance relief and opposing tariffs Jenkins focuses her economic agenda on reducing everyday expenses and addressing Florida's affordability crisis. She advocates for federal intervention in the state's property insurance market and opposes blanket tariffs that raise costs for working families. - Proposes stabilizing Florida's property insurance market using bipartisan federal reinsurance and catastrophe backstops. - Opposes tariffs that increase the price of everyday consumer goods. - Advocates for tax and cost-of-living policies centered on working families. > “Stabilize Florida’s property insurance market through bipartisan federal reinsurance and catastrophe backstops.” > — Jennifer Jenkins, via [Campaign site](https://jenkinsforfl.com/) **Mike Haridopolos:** Supports tax cuts and spending reductions Haridopolos attributes rising living costs to federal government spending and regulatory mandates. He supports extending tax cuts, reducing energy prices by expanding domestic production, and enacting a balanced budget amendment. - Voted for the reconciliation act (H.R. 1) and fiscal budget resolutions in the 119th Congress. - Supports protecting the Trump tax cuts from expiring and standing against federal business mandates. - Advocates for an 'All of the Above' energy strategy to reduce gas prices and curb inflation. > “Out-of-control inflation, higher taxes, and reckless spending are putting the American Dream out of reach for millions of Americans.” > — Mike Haridopolos, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Haridopolos) ### Immigration and Border Security Salience: high Haridopolos advocates for strict enforcement and deportations, while Jenkins emphasizes protecting the constitutional rights of immigrants alongside public safety. **Jennifer Jenkins:** Supports balancing safety and civil liberties Jenkins emphasizes that public safety and border policies must preserve civil rights. She advocates protecting the constitutional rights of citizens and immigrants while supporting evidence-based security strategies. - Supports public safety strategies that respect civil liberties. - Advocates protecting constitutional rights for both citizens and immigrants. **Mike Haridopolos:** Supports strict border enforcement and deportations Haridopolos makes border security a primary focus, supporting border physical barriers and enforcement measures against undocumented immigrants. He supported key immigration enforcement bills during his first term in Congress. - Voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) and the DUI Deportation Act (H.R. 875). - Opposed measures allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses during his time in the Florida legislature. - Supports full implementation of border wall construction and mass removal policies. > “Mike’s top priority is to address the catastrophic crisis at our southern border.” > — Mike Haridopolos, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Haridopolos) ### Healthcare Salience: high Jenkins advocates expanding Medicaid and ACA subsidies, whereas Haridopolos seeks to repeal or reform Obamacare in favor of interstate insurance competition and state block grants. **Jennifer Jenkins:** Supports Medicaid expansion and strengthening ACA Jenkins advocates expanding public health insurance programs and protecting affordable coverage options. She supports expanding Medicaid in Florida and extending Affordable Care Act premium subsidies. - Calls for expanding Medicaid to prevent medical debt and reliance on emergency care. - Supports restoring and strengthening ACA subsidies to lower insurance premiums. - Advocates protecting coverage for pre-existing conditions and funding mental healthcare access. > “Expand Medicaid so Floridians aren’t forced into emergency care or medical debt.” > — Jennifer Jenkins, via [Campaign site](https://jenkinsforfl.com/) **Mike Haridopolos:** Opposes Obamacare and supports free-market reforms Haridopolos criticizes the Affordable Care Act as an overreach toward single-payer healthcare. He supports market-driven reforms, such as selling health insurance across state lines and issuing state block grants. - Opposes single-payer healthcare systems and government-controlled health programs. - Proposes legalizing the purchase of health insurance across state lines. - Supports health block grants to states and individual tax incentives to lower costs. > “Obamacare represents a dangerous step toward government-controlled, single-payer healthcare, which undermines the free market.” > — Mike Haridopolos, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Haridopolos) ### Education Salience: medium Jenkins prioritizes federal funding and civil rights enforcement for schools, while Haridopolos supports legislative restrictions on transgender participation in female school sports. **Jennifer Jenkins:** Supports federal education funding and civil rights protections Drawing on her background as a school board member, Jenkins prioritizes strengthening public education funding and defending federal oversight in schools. - Supports preserving the U.S. Department of Education and federal civil rights enforcement in public schools. - Advocates fully funding IDEA and defending Section 504 protections for students with disabilities. - Calls for expanding Title I federal funding and investing in classroom resources and teacher support. > “Protect the U.S. Department of Education and federal civil rights enforcement in schools.” > — Jennifer Jenkins, via [Campaign site](https://jenkinsforfl.com/) **Mike Haridopolos:** Supports restricting transgender participation in female sports Haridopolos approaches education policy primarily through school culture and athletic participation standards. - Voted in favor of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28) to prohibit biological males from participating in female school athletic programs. ### Crime and Law Enforcement Salience: medium Jenkins emphasizes mental health support for first responders and evidence-based violence prevention, whereas Haridopolos emphasizes staunch support for police agencies and protecting gun rights. **Jennifer Jenkins:** Supports stable funding and support for first responders Jenkins, whose father served as a corrections officer, advocates supporting first responders through funding, training, and mental health resources while focusing on evidence-based crime prevention. - Supports stable funding, training, and mental health support for law enforcement and first responders. - Advocates evidence-based public safety strategies aimed at reducing recidivism and community violence. > “Ensure first responders have stable funding, training, and mental health support.” > — Jennifer Jenkins, via [Campaign site](https://jenkinsforfl.com/) **Mike Haridopolos:** Supports law enforcement and Second Amendment rights Haridopolos emphasizes strong backing for law enforcement agencies and opposition to gun control measures, earning endorsements from local sheriffs and gun-rights organizations. - Endorsed by the Sheriffs of Brevard and Indian River Counties. - Maintains an 'A' rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA). - Pledges to defend Second Amendment rights against federal gun control legislation. > “Mike will always “Back the Blue” and is grateful for the support of the Sheriffs of both Brevard and Indian River Counties.” > — Mike Haridopolos, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Haridopolos) ### Government Reform and Ethics Salience: medium **Jennifer Jenkins:** No documented position in our sources **Mike Haridopolos:** Supports stock trading bans and term limits Haridopolos advocates for ethics restrictions on federal elected officials. He pledges not to trade individual stocks while serving in office and supports constitutional term limits. - Signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge. - Supports legislation banning members of Congress from trading stocks. - Refrains from trading individual stocks while serving in the U.S. House. > “I have NEVER traded stocks while serving in Congress, and I believe elected officials should be held to the same standards as the people they represent.” > — Mike Haridopolos, via [Campaign site](https://www.mike4congress.com/) ### Environment and Water Resources Salience: medium **Jennifer Jenkins:** No documented position in our sources **Mike Haridopolos:** Supports funding for Indian River Lagoon restoration Haridopolos emphasizes environmental restoration for Florida's 8th District, specifically securing federal funding for the Indian River Lagoon and co-chairing the Congressional Estuary Caucus. - Delivered over $14 million in federal appropriations requests for Indian River Lagoon projects. - Serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Estuary Caucus. - Supports sustaining the National Estuary Program. > “Advancing common sense ideas that protect our Lagoon and preserve our natural beauty is important to Mike.” > — Mike Haridopolos, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Haridopolos) ### Space Industry and Technology Salience: medium **Jennifer Jenkins:** No documented position in our sources **Mike Haridopolos:** Supports expanding NASA funding and space commerce As Chairman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, Haridopolos advocates robust federal investment in space exploration to drive local job growth and safeguard national security against foreign competitors. - Chairs the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. - Helped secure billions in federal funding for NASA and Florida space industry projects. - Frames space superiority as vital to counter technological threats from China and Russia. > “Space is key to American technological innovation as well as our national security.” > — Mike Haridopolos, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Haridopolos) ### Democracy and Voting Rights Salience: low **Jennifer Jenkins:** No documented position in our sources **Mike Haridopolos:** Supports strict voter proof-of-citizenship laws Haridopolos focuses on election integrity by supporting legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. - Voted in favor of the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal election registration. - Advocates voter verification policies to increase public confidence in election outcomes. > “Free and fair elections start with one simple principle: American elections should be decided by American citizens.” > — Mike Haridopolos, via [Campaign site](https://www.mike4congress.com/) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/fl-08-house-election-winner) — FL-08 House Election Winner: Republicans 94.4%, Democrats 4.5% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-FL08-26) — FL-08 House winner?: Mike Haridopolos 94.7%, Jennifer Jenkins 5.6% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXFLPRIMARY-08R26) — FL-08 Republican nominee?: Mike Haridopolos 99.0%, Tayla Plumer 2.0%, Daphney Rosario Acevedo-Calvert 1.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXFLPRIMARY-08D26) — FL-08 Democratic nominee?: Jennifer Jenkins 99.0%, Colby Shock 3.0%, Paul Dellinger 3.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-fl-08)