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Mike Haridopolos

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Mike Haridopolos
Candidate, U.S. House Florida District 8
U.S. House Florida District 8
Tenure
2025 - Present
Term ends
2027
Years in position
1
Predecessor: Bill Posey (R)
Prior offices
Florida State Senate District 26
Years in office: 2003 - 2012

Florida House of Representatives District 30
Years in office: 2000 - 2003
Successor: Thad Altman (R)
Compensation
Base salary
$174,000
Elections and appointments
Last election
August 18, 2026
Next election
November 3, 2026
Education
Bachelor's
Stetson University, 1992
Ph.D
University of Arkansas, 1999
Graduate
University of Arkansas, 1993
Personal
Profession
College professor
Contact

Mike Haridopolos (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Florida's 8th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2025. His current term ends on January 3, 2027.

Haridopolos (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Florida's 8th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. The Republican primary for this office on August 18, 2026, was canceled.

Biography

Haridopolos earned his B.A. from Stetson University in 1992, his M.A. from the University of Arkansas in 1993, and his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas in 1999. His professional experience includes working as an author and college professor.

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2025-2026

Haridopolos was assigned to the following committees:[Source]

Elections

2026

See also: Florida's 8th Congressional District election, 2026

Florida's 8th Congressional District election, 2026 (August 18 Republican primary)

Florida's 8th Congressional District election, 2026 (August 18 Democratic primary)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for U.S. House Florida District 8

Incumbent Mike Haridopolos and Jennifer Jenkins are running in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 8 on November 3, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jennifer Jenkins advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 8.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Mike Haridopolos advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 8.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Independent Party of Florida primary election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

Mike Haridopolos received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

2024

See also: Florida's 8th Congressional District election, 2024

Florida's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 20 Republican primary)

Florida's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 20 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Florida District 8

Mike Haridopolos defeated Sandy Kennedy in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 8 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Mike Haridopolos
Mike Haridopolos (R)
 
62.2
 
280,352
Image of Sandy Kennedy
Sandy Kennedy (D) Candidate Connection
 
37.8
 
170,096

Total votes: 450,448
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 8

Sandy Kennedy defeated Daniel McDow in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 8 on August 20, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sandy Kennedy
Sandy Kennedy Candidate Connection
 
60.7
 
24,701
Image of Daniel McDow
Daniel McDow Candidate Connection
 
39.3
 
15,999

Total votes: 40,700
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 8

Mike Haridopolos defeated John Hearton and Joseph Babits in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 8 on August 20, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Mike Haridopolos
Mike Haridopolos
 
72.1
 
61,710
Image of John Hearton
John Hearton Candidate Connection
 
21.7
 
18,604
Image of Joseph Babits
Joseph Babits
 
6.1
 
5,250

Total votes: 85,564
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

Mike Haridopolos received the following endorsements.

Pledges

Haridopolos signed the following pledges.

  • U.S. Term Limits Pledge

2012

Haridopolos did not seek re-election in 2012.[1]

2011

U.S. Senate race

On July 19, Haridopolos announced that he was dropping out of the race for a seat in the U.S. Senate. He noted that instead of running for office, he would be re-dedicating himself to finishing the job he was sent to do in Florida.

In a quote by the Florida Times Union, Haridopolos said, "It became increasingly clear to me and those around me that the responsibilities I was managing on both fronts were in conflict. I truly believed I could handle both jobs. But I was wrong."[2]

As of late July, fund-raising totals indicated Haridopolos raised 900,000, second to former U.S. Senator George LeMieux who raised $950,000. Former State House majority leader Adam Hasner was third with $560,000.[3]

2010

See also: Florida State Senate elections, 2010

Haridopolos won re-election to the 26th District seat in 2010. He was unopposed in the November 2, 2010 general election.[4]

2006

On November 7, 2006, Haridopolos won re-election to the Florida Senate from Florida's 26th Senate district. Haridopolos ran unopposed in the election. He raised $345,946 for his campaign.[5]

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Mike Haridopolos has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Mike Haridopolos asking him to fill out the survey. If you are Mike Haridopolos, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 33,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

You can ask Mike Haridopolos to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing mike@senatormike.com.

Twitter
Email

2024

Mike Haridopolos did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Haridopolos' campaign website stated the following:

“

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Mike’s top priority is to address the catastrophic crisis at our southern border. The Biden Border Crisis has allowed record numbers of illegal immigrants and deadly drugs to pour across the southern border. Under Biden, over 7 million illegals have entered our nation illegally and it must stop.

Mike led the fight to defeat a measure in the Florida legislature to allow illegals to obtain a driver’s license. We must be a nation of laws and secure the border.

FIX OUR ECONOMY

Joe Biden’s economy is crushing our families. Out-of-control inflation, higher taxes, and reckless spending are putting the American Dream out of reach for millions of Americans. It’s time to make the American economy work for our families once again.

Mike understands that burdensome federal and state regulations and mandates stifle economic growth and job creation. Mike will stand against federal mandates that hurt small businesses. We must reform the broken tax code in Washington and protect the Trump Tax Cuts from expiring.

We must reduce gas prices and the best way to do so is to return to the Trump policies that made America energy independent. Low energy prices are the key to economic growth, and it will in turn reduce out-of-control inflation. I support an “All of the Above” approach to American energy.

INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

Mike has lived in Brevard County since 1989 and raised his family along the Lagoon and that is why it’s so important for us to work together to care for our environment. Our quality of life, economy, tourism, property values, and the survival of many indigenous species of plant and wildlife will depend on our efforts. Advancing common sense ideas that protect our Lagoon and preserve our natural beauty is important to Mike.

The National Estuary Program (NEP) was created by Congress in 1987 to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. Mike will vote to sustain the NEP program to help maintain our nation’s environmental treasures like the Indian River Lagoon. Plus, Mike will join the bi-partisan Congressional Estuary Caucus created by Bill Posey to help solve the growing problem in our 28 estuaries across the nation.

SPACE

Space exploration generates high-paying jobs here in District 8. Space is key to American technological innovation as well as our national security. Space is the ultimate military high ground. Free nations worldwide are looking to the U.S. to lead the world in space, and if we fail to do so, others – namely China and Russia – will fill that void, and threaten our economic and national security interests.

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

As the son of a law enforcement agent, Mike knows the challenges our men and women in uniform face each day. Mike will always “Back the Blue” and is grateful for the support of the Sheriffs of both Brevard and Indian River Counties.

Additionally, Mike has always been a staunch defender of our Second Amendment rights, carrying an A rating from the NRA from his service in the Florida Legislature. Mike will protect our right to bear arms in Congress.

THE MILITARY & VETERANS

Mike’s son serves in the United States Air Force. Our military preserves our freedom every day. We must back them with the best technology available to keep evil at bay and ensure a strong national defense.

Our veterans deserve the best care as well for their service to our nation. Unfortunately, the system too often lets our veterans down. Mike will fight each day to make sure our veterans get the top-notch care they deserve.

TERM LIMITS

Mike believes in term limits. Florida is proof that term limits work. Florida is the epicenter of conservative reforms where citizens serve and then return to the private sector. Mike signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge and will vote for all term limits measures in office.

HEALTHCARE

United States leads the world in medical innovation and our healthcare system should reflect that excellence. In Congress, Mike will champion solutions that provide affordable, patient-centered healthcare. Obamacare represents a dangerous step toward government-controlled, single-payer healthcare, which undermines the free market.

To bring down healthcare costs, we need to empower individuals with tax benefits. Additionally, we must restore the original function of the Commerce Clause by legalizing the purchase of health insurance across state lines. Allowing for state reciprocity would enhance patient freedom, driving competition and lowering costs. Mike will advocate for block grants to states, enabling them to design and implement healthcare solutions that fit the needs of their residents, free from federal overreach. These reforms will cut through bureaucratic red tape, empower patients, and ensure healthcare is affordable and accessible to all Americans.

NATIONAL DEBT

Our national debt is now more than $34 trillion and is growing each day. Social Security and Medicare, programs seniors paid for during their working years are in jeopardy of going bankrupt if we don’t act. Mike will fight the Democrats’ reckless tax and spending agenda to preserve and protect these vital programs for our future generations. As President of the Senate, Mike faced a $4B budget shortfall. He found common-sense solutions to cut government spending and balance the budget. He will do the same in Washington and sponsor a Constitutional Amendment to balance the budget.

WEAPONIZATION OF JUSTICE

In Joe Biden’s America, there is one system of lawlessness for his friends and allies and a weaponization against his perceived enemies. Mike is honored to have the endorsement of patriots like Congressman Jim Jordan and will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him to end the weaponization of our justice system.[6]

”
—Mike Haridopolos' campaign website (2024)[7]

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Mike Haridopolos campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2026* U.S. House Florida District 8On the Ballot general$1,824,838 $885,224
2024U.S. House Florida District 8Won general$1,759,341 $1,501,178
Grand total$3,584,178 $2,386,401
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable candidate endorsements by Mike Haridopolos
EndorseeElectionStageOutcome
Megan Wright  source  (Nonpartisan) Brevard Public Schools school board District 1 (2026) Won Primary
Gene Trent  source  (Nonpartisan) Brevard Public Schools school board District 2 (2026) Advanced in Primary
Byron Donalds  source  (R) Governor of Florida (2026) GeneralAdvanced in Primary
Jacqueline Rosario  source  (Nonpartisan) School District of Indian River County school board District 2 (2026) –
George Moraitis  source  (R) U.S. House Florida District 25 (2026) GeneralLost Primary
Ashley B. Moody  source  (R) U.S. Senate Florida (2026) GeneralAdvanced in Primary
Chandler Langevin  source 1  source 2  (Nonpartisan) Palm Bay City Council Seat 3 (2024) Primary, General–
Mitt Romney  source  (R) President of the United States (2012) PrimaryLost General

Personal finance disclosures

Members of the House are required to file financial disclosure reports. You can search disclosure reports on the House’s official website here.

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 119th Congress, 2025

The 119th United States Congress began on January 3, 2025 and will conclude on January 3, 2027. At the start of the session, Republicans held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (219-215), and Republicans held the majority in the U.S. Senate (52-45). Joe Biden (D) was the president and Kamala Harris (D) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 119th Congress, 2025
VoteBill and descriptionStatus
Yes check.svg YeaYes check.svg Passed (218-214)[9]
Yes check.svg YeaYes check.svg Passed (220-208)[11]
Yes check.svg YeaYes check.svg Passed (216-214)[13]
Yes check.svg YeaYes check.svg Passed (222-209)[15]
Yes check.svg YeaYes check.svg Passed (217-213)[17]
Yes check.svg YeaYes check.svg Passed (308-122)[19]
Yes check.svg YeaYes check.svg Passed (427-1)[21]
Yes check.svg YeaYes check.svg Passed (263-156)[23]
Yes check.svg YeaYes check.svg Passed (219-213)[25]
Yes check.svg YeaYes check.svg Passed (246-160)[27]
Yes check.svg YeaYes check.svg Passed (218-206)[29]



Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Haridopolos and his wife, Stephanie Bressan, have two children.

State legislative tenure

Committee assignments

2009-2010

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Florida Secretary of State Elections Division, "Candidate List," accessed July 7, 2012
  2. ↑ Jacksonville.com,Florida Sen. Mike Haridopolos quits U.S. Senate run, July 18, 2011
  3. ↑ WOKV.com, Haridopolos out of the U.S. Senate race, July 18, 2011
  4. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "November 2, 2010, Election Results," November 2, 2010
  5. ↑ Follow the Money, "2006 Contributions," accessed December 16, 2014
  6. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  7. ↑ Mike Haridopolos' campaign website, "Issues," accessed September 24, 2024
  8. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1 - An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.", accessed May 29, 2026
  9. ↑ Congress.gov, "House Roll Call Vote 190," accessed May 29, 2026
  10. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.22 - SAVE Act," accessed May 29, 2026
  11. ↑ Congress.gov, "House Roll Call Vote 102," accessed May 29, 2026
  12. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Con.Res.14 - Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034," accessed May 29, 2026
  13. ↑ Congress.gov, "House Roll Call Vote 100," accessed May 29, 2026
  14. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.5371 - Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026," accessed June 1, 2026
  15. ↑ Congress.gov, "House Roll Call Vote 285," accessed June 1, 2026
  16. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1968 - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025," accessed June 1, 2026
  17. ↑ Congress.gov, "House Roll Call Vote 70," accessed June 1, 2026
  18. ↑ Congress.gov, "S.1582 - GENIUS Act," accessed June 1, 2026
  19. ↑ Congress.gov, "House Roll Call Vote 200," accessed June 1, 2026
  20. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.4405 - Epstein Files Transparency Act," accessed June 2, 2026
  21. ↑ Congress.gov, "House Roll Call Vote 289," accessed June 2, 2026
  22. ↑ Congress.gov, "S.5 - Laken Riley Act," accessed June 2, 2026
  23. ↑ Congress.gov, "House Roll Call Vote 23," accessed June 2, 2026
  24. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1526 - NORRA of 2025," accessed June 2, 2026
  25. ↑ Congress.gov, "House Roll Call Vote 98," accessed June 2, 2026
  26. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.875 - Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025," accessed June 2, 2026
  27. ↑ Congress.gov, "House Roll Call Vote 183," accessed June 2, 2026
  28. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.28 - Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025," accessed June 2, 2026
  29. ↑ Congress.gov, "House Roll Call Vote 12," accessed June 2, 2026

Political offices
Preceded by
Bill Posey (R)
U.S. House Florida District 8
2025-Present
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
-
Florida State Senate District 26
2003-2012
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
-
Florida House of Representatives District 30
2000-2003
Succeeded by
Thad Altman (R)


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
Neal Dunn (R)
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
Anna Luna (R)
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
Vacant
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
Republican Party (22)
Democratic Party (7)
Vacancies (1)