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Florida Decides
Florida Decides

News 13 is your source for local political news in your county, covering the issues that matter to you.

Latest Florida Decides News

UPCOMING ELECTIONS:
Flagler County Referendum Special Election - Friday, June 7

PRESIDENT


barack-obama-small

BARACK OBAMA (D - incumbent)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • J.D., Harvard Law School
  • B.A., Columbia University
  • Occidental College

Profession:

  • Civil rights attorney

Personal:

  • Married, 2 daughters

Experience: 

  • 44th President of the United States, 2009-present
  • U.S. Senator from Illinois, 2005-08
  • Illinois State Senator, 1997-2004

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MITT ROMNEY (R)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • J.D., Harvard Law School
  • MBA, Harvard Business School
  • B.A., Brigham Young University

Profession:

  • Businessman

Personal:

  • Married, 5 children

Experience:

  • U.S. Presidential Republican candidate, 2008
  • Governor of Massachusetts, 2003–07
  • President and CEO, Salt Lake Organizing Committee, 2002 Olympics
  • U.S. Senate candidate, 1994

———————————————

gary-johnson-small

GARY JOHNSON (LBT)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • University of New Mexico

Profession:

  • Businessman

Personal:

  • Engaged, 2 children from previous marriage

Experience:

  • Governor of New Mexico, 1995–2003

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THOMAS ROBERT STEVENS (OBJ)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate, New York University
  • Graduate, Hoftstra University School of Law

Profession:

  • College instructor
  • Attorney

Personal:

  • World traveler
  • Believes in Ayn Rand's objectivist philosophy

Political:

  • Founder of the Objectivist Party
  • Ran for President in 2008

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virgil-goode

VIRGIL GOODE JR. (CPF)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate, University of Richmond
  • Graduate, University of Virginia School of Law

Profession:

  • Retired Army National Guard
  • Attorney

Personal:

  • Married, five children

Political:

  • 1973-1997: Virginia State Senate
  • 1997-2009: US House of Representatives

———————————————

Jill-stein

JILL STEIN (GRE)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate, Harvard College
  • Graduate, Harvard Medical School

Profession:

  • Doctor
  • Environmental activist

Personal:

  • Married, two children

Political:

  • Frequent Green Party candidate

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andre-barnett

ANDRE BARNETT (REF)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate, Western Governors University

Profession:

  • US Army veteran
  • Founded Wisedome, an IT company with an emphasis on security
  • Fitness model

Personal:

  • N/A

Political:

  • Political newcomer

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stewart-alexander

STEWART ALEXANDER (SOC)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • N/A

Profession:

  • Radio host
  • Retired Air Force reservist
  • Community Activist

Personal:

  • Married, four children

Political:

  • Ran for mayor of Los Angeles
  • Ran for California lieutenant governor in 2005

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PETA LINDSAY (PSL)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate, Howard University
  • Attending University of Southern California

Profession:

  • Anti-war activist

Personal:

  • N/A

Political:

  • Leader in the ANSWER movement

———————————————

roseanne-barr

ROSEANNE BARR (PFP)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

Profession:

  • Comedienne
  • Actress
  • Activist

Personal:

Political:

  • political newcomer

———————————————

tom-hoefling

TOM HOEFLING (AIP)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • N/A

Profession:

  • Conservative activist
  • Anti-abortion activist

Personal:

  • Married, nine children, two foster children

Political:

  • Founded America's Party

———————————————

rocky-anderson

ROSS "ROCKY" ANDERSON (JPF)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate, University of Utah
  • Graduate, George Washington University law school

Profession:

  • Lawyer
  • Human rights activist

Personal:

  • Divorced, one child

Political:

  • 2000-2008: Mayor of Salt Lake City, UT

———————————————

▲ Back to the top

U.S. SENATE


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BILL NELSON (D - incumbent)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | News 13 Candidate Blog

Education:

  • University of Virginia (J.D.)
  • Yale University (B.A.)

Profession:

  • U.S. Army Captain (retired)

Personal:

  • Married, 2 children

Political:

  • 1972-1979: Florida House of Representatives
  • 1979-1991: US House of Representatives
  • 1995-2000: Florida treasurer and insurance commissioner
  • 2001-present: US Senate

———————————————

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CONNIE MACK IV (R)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | News 13 Candidate Blog

Education:

  • University of Florida

Profession:

  • Businessman, marketing consultant

Personal:

  • Married, 2 children, 2 stepchildren

Political:

  • 2000-2003: FL House of Representatives
  • 2004-present:  US House of Representatives

———————————————

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CHRIS BORGIA (NPA)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

Profession:

Personal:

Political:

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BILL GAYLOR (NPA)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

Profession:

Personal:

Political:

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PIOTR BLASS (write-in candidate)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

Profession:

Personal:

Political:

———————————————

NAOMI CRAINE (write-in candidate)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

Profession:

Personal:

Political:

———————————————

LIONEL LONG (write-in candidate)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

Profession:

Personal:

Political:

———————————————

ROBERT MONROE (write-in candidate)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

Profession:

Personal:

Political:

———————————————

LAWRENCE SIDNEY SCOTT (write-in candidate)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

Profession:

Personal:

Political:

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▲ Back to the top

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 3


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J.R. GAILLOT (D)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate, University of Hartford

Professional:

  • Small business owner
  • Set up halfway houses as a counselor

Personal:

  • Spent some of his childhood in Haiti; speaks English, French, Creole and Spanish

Political:

  • Worked with Senator Lowell Weicker

———————————————

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TED YOHO (R)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate of Univeristy of Florida's Veterinary School

Professional:

  • Veterinarian

Personal:

  • Married, three children

Political:

  • No political experience

———————————————

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PHILLIP DODDS (NPA)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate, University of Florida

Profession:

  • Small business owner
  • Product manager for a computer software company

Personal:

  • Married, three children

Political:

  • Political newcomer

———————————————

MICHAEL RICKS (write-in candidate)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

Profession:

Personal:

Political:

———————————————

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KENNETH WILLEY (write-in candidate)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

Profession:

Personal:

Political:

———————————————

▲ Back to the top

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 5


corrine-brown-small

CORRINE BROWN (D)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | News 13 Candidate Blog

Education:

  • Graduate, FAMU
  • Graduate, University of Florida
  • Honorary doctor of law, Edward Waters College

Profession:

  • Lawmaker

Personal:

  • Has a daughter
  • Native Floridian

Political:

  • 1982-1991: Florida House representative
  • 1993-current: US House representative

———————————————

leanne-kolb-small

LEANNE KOLB (R)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | News 13 Candidate Blog

Education:

  • Graduate, Winter Park High School

Profession:

  • Licensed real estate agent
  • Owns AFR Christian Karate

Personal:

  • Married, six children

Political:

  • No political experience

———————————————

eileen-fleming-small

EILEEN FLEMING (NPA)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • N/A

Profession:

  • Nurse
  • Volunteer

Personal:

  • Married

Political:

  • Political newcomer

———————————————

BRUCE RAY BIGGS (write-in candidate)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

Profession:

Personal:

Political:

———————————————

▲ Back to the top

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 6


heather-beven-small

HEATHER BEAVEN (D)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate of University of Missouri
  • Graduate of University of North Florida

Professional:

  • CEO, Florida Endowment Foundation
  • Cryptologist for the US Navy

Personal:

  • Married, two children

Political:

  • No political experience

———————————————

 

 
ron-desantis-small

RON DESANTIS (R)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Yale University graduate
  • Harvard Law School graduate

Professional:

  • Served in the US Navy (currently in the Navy reserve)
  • JAG prosecutor

Personal:

  • Married

Political:

  • No political experience

———————————————

▲ Back to the top

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 7


jason-kendall-small

JASON KENDALL (D)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | News 13 Candidate Blog

Education:

  • Washington & Jefferson College graduate
  • Masters degree from Norwich University

Professional:

  • Social media consultant
  • Sales manager

Personal:

  • Florida native

Political:

  • Seminole County Soil & Water Conservation Supervisor

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John-Mica-small

JOHN MICA (R)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | News 13 Candidate Blog

Education:

  • University of Florida graduate

Professional:

  • Businessman

Personal:

  • Married, two children

Political:

  • 1976-1980: Florida House of Representatives
  • 1981-1985: Staff member, eventually chief of staff for Sen. Paula F. Hawkins
  • 1992-present: US House of Representatives

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fred-marra-small

FRED MARRA (write-in candidate)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • N/A

Profession:

  • Computer technician

Personal:

  • Married, three children

Political:

  • No political experience

———————————————

▲ Back to the top

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 8


shannon-roberts-small

SHANNON ROBERTS (D)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Graduate, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
  • Doctor of Public Administration degree, University of South California

Profession:

  • Worked for NASA in both Washington and at Kennedy Space Center
    • Ombudsperson for Strategic Change
    • Director of Administration (Workforce and Strategic Planning)
    • Assistant Associate Administrator for Space Flight
  • Former director of quality at Xerox
  • Several leadership positions in the US Dept. of Transportation

Personal:

  • Daughter of a career military officer

Political:

  • No political experience

———————————————

bill-posey-small

BILL POSEY (R)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate, Cocoa High School

Profession:

  • Worked for Kennedy Space Center
  • Founded a real estate company

Personal:

  • Married, two children
  • Drives stock cars

Political:

  • 1976: Rockledge city Council
  • 1992: Florida House
  • 2001-2009: Florida Senate
  • 2009-current: US House of Representatives

———————————————

richard-gillmor-small

RICHARD GILLMOR (NPA)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Graduate, Western Michigan University

Profession:

  • Small business owner

Personal:

  • Married, two children

Political:

  • Current mayor, City of Sebastian

———————————————

▲ Back to the top

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 9


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ALAN GRAYSON (D)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | News 13 Candidate Blog

Education:

  • Graduate, Harvard College
  • Graduate, Harvard Law School
  • Graduate, Harvard Kennedy School of Government

Profession:

  • Attorney
  • Founded IDT Corporation

Personal:

  • Married, five children

Political:

  • 2009-2011: US House of Representatives

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todd-long-small

TODD LONG (R)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | News 13 Candidate Blog

Education:

  • BA degree from Rollins College

Law degree from Wake Forest University

Professional:

  • Owner, The Law Offices of Todd Long
  • Radio show host

Personal:

  • Married, two children

Political:

  • Ran for Congress in 2008 and 2010, lost in the Republican primaries

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note:  on August 22nd, NPA candidate Miguel "Mike" Nieves filed paperwork with Florida's Division of Elections to withdraw his name as a candidate for U.S. House District 9.

NPA candidate Roberto Sanchez has also withdrawn his name as a candidate for U.S. House District 9.

Ballots will only show Alan Grayson and Todd Long as the candidates in that race.

▲ Back to the top

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 10


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VAL DEMINGS (D)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | News 13 Candidate Blog

Education:

  • Graduate, Florida State University
  • Master's degree, Webster University

Profession:

  • Police officer
  • Orlando's first female police chief

Personal:

  • Married, mother of three

Political:

  • Political newcomer

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dan-webster-small

DAN WEBSTER (R)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | News 13 Candidate Blog

Education:

  • Graduate, Georgia Institute of Technology

Profession:

  • Small business owner

Personal:

  • Married, six children

Political:

  • 1980-1998: Florida House (speaker of the House, 1996-1998)
  • 2000-2008: Florida Senate
  • 2009-current: US House of Representatives

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naipaul-seegolam-small

NAIPAUL SEEGOLAM (write-in candidate)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Attended University of Connecticut

Profession:

  • US Air Force veteran
  • Small business owner

Personal:

  • Married, three children

Political:

  • Political newcomer

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▲ Back to the top

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 11


H. DAVID WERDER (D)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • Attended Virginia Military Institute

Profession:

  • Former trucker

Personal:

  • Sat on a 30-foot flagpole from November 1982 until January 1984 to protest the price of gasoline

Political:

  • Ran in, but lost, several political races, including races for US House and mayor of Clearwater

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rich-nugent-small

RICHARD NUGENT (R)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Education:

  • N/A

Profession:

  • Illinois Air National Guard veteran
  • Hernando County Sheriff's Office deputy and former sheriff

Personal:

  • Married, three children

Political:

  • 2000-2008: Hernando County Sheriff
  • 2010-current: US House of Representatives

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▲ Back to the top

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  • May 26:  State Senator David Simmons (R-Altamonte Springs)

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