Senator Bill Nelson. Biography. Biography. Stance on Issues. Committees. Election Results

Transcription

1 Florida

2 Senator Bill Nelson Bill Nelson, who was first elected to the Senate in 2000, is a careful centrist in much the same manner of his former Florida Democratic colleague Bob Graham, showing a willingness to break from his party when he deems its interests diverge from those of his state. He also is catching up to Graham in popularity; he coasted to a third term in 2012, outpolling President Barack Obama in the state. He attended the University of Florida for two years, and then graduated from Yale and the University of Virginia law school. After two-years in the Army, he returned to Melbourne and practiced law and worked on the staff of Democratic Gov. Reubin Askew. In 1972, at age 30, he was elected to the state House of Representatives. In 1978 he won a seat in the US House of Representatives. Nelson s chance to run for higher office came in March 1999, when Republican Sen. Connie Mack said he would not run for reelection in 2000; it was the most expensive Florida Senate race to that point, with the two candidates spending more than $15 million between them. Nelson won 51%-46%. In the Senate, Nelson has become known as a deliberative lawmaker with a moderate-to-liberal voting record, usually siding with his party on major legislation. Some Republicans grouse that he prefers to tackle easy issues to tougher ones. Nelson responds by citing his work against oil drilling and health care. He is the ranking member in both the subcommittee on Emerging Threats & Capabilities as well as the ranking member on the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee. Currently: Senator, FL Elected: 2000 Education: Yale U., B.A., 1965; U. of VA, J.D., 1968 Religion: Episcopalian Family: Married (Grace), 2 children Contact: (202) Hart Senate Office Washington, DC Supports Obamacare expansion Opposes absolute right to gun ownership Supports unrestricted abortion rights Favors higher taxes on the wealthy Supports green energy initiatives Supports Same-Sex Marriage Opposes stricter punishment to reduce crime Favors pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Senate Committee on Aging Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Committee on Finance 2012 General Bill Nelson (D) Votes: 4,523,451 Percent: 55.2% Connie Mack (R) Votes: 3,458,267 Percent: 42.2% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2016.

3 Senator Marco Rubio Marco Rubio, the junior senator from Florida, won a riveting contest in 2010 and is regarded as one of the Republicans with the best chance to reshape the GOP for the 21st century. He is a Latino in a party that is desperate to make inroads with that demographic group, an eloquent and telegenic public speaker with a compelling biography, and a consistent conservative with a deep interest in policy. Rubio got his undergraduate degree in 1993 at the University of Florida. He then went to the University of Miami for a law degree. He interned for Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and in his last year of law school, ran the Dade County operation for Republican Sen. Bob Dole s presidential campaign in At age 26, he ran for city commissioner in West Miami, and beat an incumbent. Two years later, he won an open state House seat. In 2007, he became speaker of the Florida House, making him the youngest person and the first Hispanic to achieve that position. In 2010, he ran for the Senate with tea party backing against popular Rep Gov. Charlie Crist, winning 49%-29%. Rubio notably declined to join the Senate Tea Party Caucus founded by fellow freshman Rand Paul, R-KY, but his voting record has been reliably conservative. He was vetted as a potential running-mate with Mitt Romney in 2012, elevating his national profile. Rubio made an unsuccessful run for GOP nominee in 2016, dropping out after losing his home state of Florida to Donald Trump. Currently: Senator, FL Elected: 2010 Education: U. of FL, B.A., 1993; U. of Miami, J.D., 1996 Religion: Roman Catholic Family: Married (Jeannette), 4 children Contact: (202) Russell Senate Office Washington, DC Opposes Obamacare expansion Supports absolute right to gun ownership Opposes abortion rights Opposes higher taxes on the wealthy Opposes green energy initiatives Opposes pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens Opposes privatized social security Favors military expansion Opposes marijuana legalization Senate Committee on Appropriations Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senate Committee on Intelligence Senate Committee Aging Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Marco Rubio (R) Votes: 4,835,191 Percent: 52.0% Patrick Murphy (D) Votes: 4,122,088 Percent: 44.0% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2016.

4 Congressman Matt Gaetz Matt Gaetz was born on May 7, 1982 in Hollywood, Florida. Gaetz graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in social science with concentrations in political science, history and geography in 2003, and later with his J.D. from the College of William and Mary in After graduating from law school, he went on to work with the law firm Keefe, Anchors, Gordon, and Moyle as a lawyer. Shortly after, Gaetz decided to run for the Florida State House of Representatives in District 4 and was unopposed in that first race and each time he ran for reelection. During his time in the Florida House, he served on the Regulatory Affairs, State Affairs Committee and Judiciary Committee, and was the Chairman of the Finance & Tax Committee. While in office, Gaetz worked to strengthen the Stand Your Ground law and was a major advocate of tax cuts. During his tenure as member of the state House, the American Conservative Union deemed him a Defender of Liberty. After Rep. Jeff Miller decided not to run for reelection, Matt Gaetz filed to run for the US House of Representatives. In the primary, Gaetz managed to beat six other Republicans with 36.1% of the vote. In the general, he beat Democratic candidate Steven Specht 69%-31%. 01 Elected: 2016 Education: FL St. U., B.S., 2003; Col. Of William and Mary, J.D., 2007 Religion: Baptist Family: Single Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Against expanding Obamacare Strongly pro-life Lifetime member of the NRA Favors simplifying the tax code and paying down national debt by cutting spending Supports school vouchers House Committee on the Judiciary House Committee on the Budget House Committee on Armed Services Matt Gaetz (R) Votes: 255,107 Percent: 69.1% Steve Specht (D) Votes: 114,079 Percent: 30.9% Sources: Ballotpedia, Matt Gaetz, 2016; Ballotpedia, Florida s 1st Congressional District, 2017; Gaetz for Congress, Meet Matt Gaetz, 2016; National Journal Almanac, 2017.

5 Congressman Neal Dunn Neal Dunn was born in Boston in 1953 to a military family. Growing up, he was an Eagle Scout and active in rifle competitions along with his twin brother Alan. Dunn received a U.S. Army ROTC scholarship to Washington & Lee University, where he received his bachelor s degree before earning his medical degree from George Washington University. He completed his urological residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and served as an attending urologist in the U.S. Army for 11 years, before moving to Panama City and working as a urologist there for over 20 years After retiring, he assumed an administrative role as the chief medical officer for the Advanced Urology Institute in North Florida. In 2014, Dunn was appointed by Florida Senate President Don Gaetz to serve as the Senate s representative on the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors. Dunn also has served as the founding chairman of Summit Bank, which focuses on custom commercial lending, since He prioritizes repairing the healthcare system and economy, creating jobs and rebuilding the military. 02 Election: 2016 Education: Washington and Lee U., B.S.; George Washington U., M.D. Religion: Catholic Family: Married (Leah), 3 children, 3 grandchildren Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Supports repealing Obamacare Favors lower tax rates and reduced economic regulations Supports the Second Amendment Opposes amnesty and sanctuary cities Supports Balanced Budget Amendment Opposes Common Core Supports eliminating the Department of Education House Committee on Veterans Affairs House Committee on Agriculture House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Research, Neal Dunn (R) Votes: 231,163 Percent: 67.3% Walter Dartland (D) Votes: 102,801 Percent: 29.9%

6 Congressman Ted Yoho Yoho was born in Minneapolis, the fifth of six sons. He moved with his family at age 11 to South Florida, where he lived until graduating from high school. He married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn and began working toward his goal of becoming a veterinarian. The couple moved to Gainesville, where he finished a bachelor s degree in animal science at the University of Florida, then graduated from its veterinary college. Yoho built a successful large-animal veterinarian practice. In 2009, he decided to run for Congress. Yoho was not nearly as well-known in political circles as two of his opponents in the GOP primary, Stearns and state Sen. Steve Oelrich of Gainesville. He embraced his tea party backing, railed against career politicians, and after the primary, snagged the endorsements of former GOP vice presidential nominee and tea party darling Sarah Palin and House conservatives Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, and Allen West of Florida. He promised that his moral compass wouldn t let him be beholden to anyone. He opposed raising taxes but refused to sign lobbyist and conservative activist Grover Norquist s no-tax pledge on the grounds that a war or other events may leave few alternatives. He said he would serve no more than eight years in the House. On his first day in office in January 2013, Yoho joined a protest by a small group of conservatives who refused to back John Boehner of Ohio for House speaker; Yoho cast his vote instead for Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va. 03 Elected: 2012 Education: U. of FL, B.S., 1979, D.V.M., 1983 Religion: Roman Catholic Family: Married (Carolyn), 3 children Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Strongly opposes expanding Obamacare Favors absolute right to gun ownership Opposes a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens Voted against the Export-Import Bank reauthorization act Voted for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act House Committee on Agriculture House Committee on Foreign Affairs Ted Yoho (R) Votes: 193,843 Percent: 56.6% Ken McGurn (D) Votes: 136,338 Percent: 39.8% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ted Yoho, Ballotpedia, 2016.

7 Congressman John Rutherford John Rutherford was born on September 2, 1952 and has lived in Jacksonville, Florida since he was six. Rutherford earned an associate s degree in police administration from Florida Junior College and then later received a bachelor s degree in criminology from Florida State University. In 1974, Rutherford began his police career as a patrolman. In 1995, Rutherford was appointed the Jacksonville police department s Director of Corrections, a position he held for eight years. In 2003, Rutherford ran for sheriff of Jacksonville and won. As sheriff, he introduced several initiatives to reduce crime, including Operation Safe Streets, gun bounty awards and public awareness programs. Along with greater community engagement, Rutherford focused on better treatment of the mentally ill in order to reduce their recidivism rate. By the end of his tenure in 2011, Jacksonville s violent crime rate was at a 40-year low. He also served as chair of the Florida Sheriff s Association where he advocated for state legislation that would reduce crime. In April 2016, Rutherford announced his intention to run for Florida s open 4th congressional district when Rep. Andrew Crenshaw (R) said he would not seek reelection. Rutherford entered a crowded Republican primary, but managed to win the contest with 38.7% of the vote, while his nearest competitor, Lake Hay, received 20%. Rutherford faced Democrat challenger David Bruderly in the general election. Rutherford ran on a conservative platform including limiting government spending and upholding socially conservative positions like gun rights and being pro-life. John Rutherford beat David Bruderly 70% to 28%. 04 Elected: 2016 Education: FL St. U., B.S., 1971; FBI Academy Religion: Catholic Family: Married (Patricia), 2 children, 6 grandchildren Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Strongly pro-life Favors Second Amendment protections Strongly opposes Obamacare Supports stronger border security and opposes amnesty Strongly supports increasing military spending House Committee on Veterans Affairs House Committee on Homeland Security House Committee on the Judiciary John Rutherford (R) Votes: 287,509 Percent: 70.2% David Bruderly (D) Votes: 113,088 Percent: 27.6% Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; votejohnrutherford.com; National Journal Almanac, 2017.

8 Congressman Al Lawson Alfred Lawson, a fourth-generation Floridian, was born in Midway, Florida in He worked his first job in the Gadsden Community tobacco fields at the age of 8. In high school, Lawson was an accomplished athlete and went on to play basketball at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, where he received his bachelor s of science degree in political science and then earned his master s of science in public administration from Florida State University. He married his college sweetheart, Dr. Delores Brooks, who teaches at Florida A&M University s School of Nursing. Lawson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1982 as an underdog candidate, serving for 18 years before being elected as a state senator in He served as the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, authoring the Preservation 2000 environmental law, which created the largest state-funded land acquisition program in the country. In 2005, Lawson sponsored and passed legislation creating the First Generation Matching Grant scholarship program. In addition, he hosts an annual basketball tournament, which has provided nearly $300,000 in academic scholarships to North Florida youth over the past 25 years. Lawson ran twice for the Democratic nomination in Florida s 2nd district, losing narrowly in the 2010 primary to seven-term incumbent Allen Boyd and in the 2012 general election against incumbent Steve Southerland. After redistricting, Lawson defeated Florida political icon Corrine Brown, who is under indictment for corruption, in the 5th district s Democratic primary. He defeated Republican Glo Smith in the general election with 64% of the vote. 05 Elected: 2016 Education: FL A&M U., B.S., 1970, M.S.P.A., 1973 Religion: Episcopalian Family: Married (Delores), 2 children, 2 grandchildren Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Favors reform for affordable college Favors protecting veterans benefits Favors criminal justice reform Favors investing in infrastructure House Committee on Small Business House Committee on Agriculture Al Lawson (D) Votes: 194,549 Percent: 64.2% Glo Smith (R) Votes: 108,325 Percent: 35.8% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Ballotpedia, 2017.

9 Congressman Ron DeSantis Republican Ron DeSantis, who won Florida s newly drawn 6th District in 2012, is an Ivy League-educated Navy lawyer who did a tour at the U.S. detention center at Cuba s Guantanamo Bay and in Iraq as a counselor to Navy SEAL commanders. Despite his background, he ran for Congress largely to tackle domestic issues and said his quest is to reduce the federal government s size, scope, and influence. DeSantis grew up in northeast Florida, where his father installed television ratings devices for Nielsen. A talented baseball player, DeSantis played on a team at Dunedin High School that made the final four of the Little League World Series in He went on to captain the squad at Yale, where he graduated with a bachelor s degree in history. DeSantis saw a chance to run for office when the new 6th District seat was created in the fallout from the 2010 census. He already had written a book, Dreams From Our Founding Fathers, whose title is a play on the name President Barack Obama chose for his memoir, Dreams From My Father. He argued in the book that Obama and like-minded Democrats have charted a course that is alien to our Republic s philosophical foundations. Touting his military experience and strong conservative views, DeSantis easily beat six rivals in the August primary. DeSantis was pitted in the general election against Democrat Heather Beaven, a fellow Navy veteran, but she had little chance in the fairly Republican district. DeSantis won, 57% to 43%. 06 Elected: 2012 Education: Yale U., B.A., 2001; Harvard U., J.D., 2004 Religion: Roman Catholic Family: Married (Casey), 1 child Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Strongly opposes expanding the Affordable Care Act Favors an absolute right to gun ownership Strongly opposes abortion as a woman s unrestricted right House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform House Committee on the Judiciary House Committee on Foreign Affairs Ron DeSantis (R) Votes: 213,519 Percent: 58.6% Bill McCollough (D) Votes: 151,051 Percent: 41.4% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2016.

10 Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy Stephanie Murphy, born September 16, 1978, is an educator, businesswoman and national security specialist. Before entering public service, Murphy was a strategy consultant at Deloitte Consulting. She then served as a national security specialist for the Secretary of Defense and later worked at Sungate Capital, leading investment efforts and implementing government affairs initiatives. She also taught business and social entrepreneurship at Rollins College. Murphy is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a board member of the Center for Innovative Healthcare and Mead Botanical Gardens. Murphy is a strong advocate of LGBT rights, and was a prominent voice in support of the community in the aftermath of the attacks at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. She speaks Vietnamese and lives in Winter Park with her husband and two children. 07 Elected: 2016 Education: Col. of William and Mary, B.A., 2000; Georgetown U., M.S., 2004 Religion: Christian Family: Married (Sean), 2 children Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Supports LGBT equality Opposes the absolute right to gun ownership Supports reducing the use of fossil fuels Supports government funding for Planned Parenthood House Committee on Small Business House Committee on Armed Services Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Research, Stephanie Murphy (D) Votes: 182,039 Percent: 51.5% John Mica (R) Votes: 171,583 Percent: 48.5%

11 Congressman Bill Posey Republican Bill Posey was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Brevard County, Florida. After graduating from high school, Posey took a job with McDonnell Douglas Astronautics at the Kennedy Space Center and attended Brevard Community College at night. He changed careers and went into real estate. He founded Posey & Co. Realtors in 1974 and is still president of the company. Posey is also an accomplished stock car racer. He was elected to the Rockledge City Council in 1976 and served until Four years later, he won a seat in the Florida House of Representatives. After seven-term GOP Rep. Dave Weldon announced his retirement in early 2008, Posey decided to run for the seat. Posey made government accountability and reform of the immigration system the central themes of his campaign. It was an amiable contest. The candidates expressed mutual admiration and said that they would vote for each other if they could not vote for themselves. Posey outspent Blythe by almost 9-to-1 and won 53% to 42%. He almost instantly became controversial for introducing a bill requiring future presidential candidates to provide birth certificates proving they are natural-born U.S. citizens. However, Posey coasted to reelection in 2010 and 2012, receiving 65% and 59% of the vote, respectively. After the 2012 election, he was appointed to the Space, Science, and Technology Committee. 08 Elected: 2008 Education: Brevard Comm. Col., A.A., 1969 Religion: Methodist Family: Married (Kate), 2 children, 3 grandchildren Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports loosening restrictions on interstate gun purchases Supports prohibiting federal funds to groups like Planned Parenthood Opposes common core state standards Opposes Obamacare Supports building a wall along the U.S. Mexico border House Committee on Financial Services House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Bill Posey (R) Votes: 246,483 Percent: 63.1% Cory Westbrook (D) Votes: 127,127 Percent: 32.5% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; NY Times election results, 2017; On the issues, 2017.

12 Congressman Darren Soto Darren Soto was born in 1978 in Ringwood, New Jersey to a Puerto Rican father and an Italian-American mother. He worked for Prudential Insurance in finance from 1998 to 2001 while attending Rutgers University, graduating with a bachelor s in economics in 2000 and receiving his law degree from George Washington University in Soto practiced as a commercial and civil rights attorney in Central Florida prior to serving as a state representative from 2007 until After redistricting in 2012, Soto ran for state senator in the newly created 14th district and won the general election with over 70% of the vote. In his first term as state senator, Soto passed legislation expediting the time for immigrant children receiving deferred action to acquire a driver s license, which was vetoed by Governor Rick Scott, sparking statewide protests. Soto also played an integral role in reducing the statute of limitations from five years to one year for banks to collect foreclosure debt. In 2014, he passed historic legislation giving Florida Supreme Court authority to admit immigrant lawyers into the Florida Bar. In 2015, he was instrumental in securing $11.9 million in funding for Valencia College s Poinciana campus, $20 million to restore the Kissimmee River and proposing legislation to ban fracking in Florida. He is the first Puerto Rican from Florida elected to Congress. 09 Elected: 2016 Education: Rutgers U., B.A., 2000; George Washington U., J.D., 2004 Religion: Catholic Family: Married (Amanda) Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Strongly favors stricter gun regulations Strongly favors abortion rights Opposes privatization of Social Security Supports banning fracking on public lands Opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership Strongly favors prioritizing green energy Supports protections against LGBT discrimination in employment, housing and education Strongly favors pathway to citizenship House Committee on Natural Resources House Committee on Agriculture Darren Soto (D) Votes: 195,311 Percent: 57.5% Wayne Liebnitzky (R) Votes: 144,450 Percent: 42.5% Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Research, 2017.

13 Congresswoman Val Demings Valdez Demings was born in Jacksonville, Florida to a working class couple, the youngest of seven children. Her mother was a maid and her father was a janitor. She was the first in her family to graduate from college, receiving a B.S. in criminology from Florida State University. She began working as a social worker in Jacksonville, but eventually set her sights on becoming a police officer. She moved to Orlando and enrolled in the Police Academy, where she became the class president. She was awarded the Board of Trustee s Award of Overall Experience and quickly earned a reputation for being an effective and driven officer. She served as a police officer for 27 years, including as Orlando s chief of police. During her tenure, she focused on community engagement in an attempt to address some of the root causes of violent crime in the Orlando area. In 2012, Demings decided to run in Florida s 10th congressional district against Republican incumbent Representative Daniel Webster. It was a difficult contest given the 10th district s Republican leanings, but she managed to mount a relatively effective campaign, losing by a 3.4% margin. Demings decided to try again when the 10th Congressional District was redistricted, making it more friendly to Democrats. She faced Thuy Lowe in the election, as Rep. Daniel Webster instead opted to run in the newly open 11th congressional district. The results of the election were 64.9%-35.1%. 10 Elected: 2016 Education: FL St. U., B.S., 1979; Webster U., M.A. Religion: African Methodist Episcopal Family: Married (Jerry), 3 children Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Supports stronger gun control measures Opposes the privatization of Social Security and Medicare Supports more public assistance for public higher education Supports more education investment especially in STEM programs House Committee on Homeland Security House Committee on the Judiciary Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; valdemings.com; National Journal Almanac, Val Demings (D) Votes: 198,491 Percent: 64.9% Thuy Lowe (R) Votes: 107,498 Percent: 35.1%

14 Congressman Daniel Webster Daniel Webster was born in Charleston, W.Va., and is distantly related to his 19th century namesake, considered one of the greatest senators and orators in history. His family moved to Florida when he was 7 years old because a doctor told them the climate would help cure Webster s sinus problems. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1971 with a degree in electrical engineering and began working in his family s heating and air conditioning business. In 1972, he married Sandra Jordan, and the couple had six children. Webster eventually took over the family business. Webster won a seat in the state House in 1996 and later became the first Republican speaker of the Florida House in 122 years. In 1998, Webster moved on to the state Senate, where he pushed to reduce the amount of gun control regulation and to restrict abortion rights. With the backing of national Republicans, he challenged Alan Grayson in 2010 for Florida s 8th congressional district. He focused his campaign on his opposition to the size of the federal government and President Barack Obama s health care law. Webster won decisively 56% to 38%. In the House, Webster was given a seat on the Rules Committee. He became the first GOP freshman to get a substantive bill through the House, with a measure aimed at limiting executive bonuses at companies that received financial industry bailout funds. He expressed support for House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan s attempts to rein in spending and overhaul Medicare. After redistricting, Webster decided to run in 2016 for Florida s 11th congressional district because the 10th congressional district only contained 40% of his original constituents. 11 Elected: 2016 Education: GA Institute of Technology, B.S., 1971 Religion: Baptist Family: Married (Sandy), 6 children, 7 grandchildren Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Washington, DC 1210 Strongly pro-life Favors Second Amendment protections Strongly supports vouchers for school choice Strongly opposes amnesty for undocumented immigrants Strongly opposes Obamacare House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure House Committee on Natural Resources House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Daniel Webster (R) Votes: 258,016 Percent: 65.4% Dave Koller (D) Votes: 124,713 Percent: 31.6% Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Almanac, 2017.

15 Congressman Gus Bilirakis Republican Gus Bilirakis, first elected in 2006 to succeed his father, 12-term Rep. Michael Bilirakis, came into office initially distancing himself from partisan fights and focusing on his legislative agenda. In the House, Bilirakis showed signs of centrism. Soon after taking office, he voted to increase the minimum wage. In 2008, he worked with Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat, to win House passage of a silver alert bill to assist states in finding senior citizens who disappear. He was one of just 10 Republicans in 2009 to support a bill to limit executive bonuses in financial companies receiving government bailout money. In 2010 he joined the Tea Party Caucus, and since then has displayed a sharper rhetorical edge in criticizing Democratic initiatives. He took the House floor on several occasions to denounce the Democrats health care overhaul as a government takeover. He denounced the law s Independent Payment Advisory Board, a cost-cutting panel charged with slowing the growth in Medicare spending, as an unelected bureaucracy that would trample on Congress s oversight authority. After the 2012 elections, Bilirakis was given a seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, Bilirakis focused on trying to address bureaucratic inefficiencies. In 2012, he was among the panel s critics of BioWatch, a system for detecting biological attacks that has been plagued with technical problems, and of a proposal for a $744,000 soccer field for cooperative detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. On the Foreign Affairs Committee, he followed his father s footsteps in standing up for Greek causes. 12 Elected: 2006 Education: U. of FL, B.A., 1986; Stetson U., J.D., 1989 Religion: Greek Orthodox Family: Married (Eva), 4 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Strongly opposes expanding the Affordable Care Act Strongly opposes same-sex marriage Strongly favors having a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants Voted against requiring the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to conduct a study on Keystone XL pipeline vulnerabilities to terrorism Voted in favor of the suspension of Iran sanctions relief Voted in favor of banning abortions taking place 20 or more weeks after fertilization House Committee on Veterans Affairs House Committee on Energy and Commerce Gus Bilirakis (R) Votes: 253,559 Percent: 68.6% Robert Tager (D) Votes: 116,110 Percent: 31.4% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Gus Bilirakis, Ballotpedia, 2016.

16 Congressman Charlie Crist Charlie Crist was born on July 24, 1956 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He graduated high school in St. Petersburg, Florida and went on to attend Wake Forest University for two years and then earned his undergraduate degree from Florida State University. He subsequently received his J.D. from Samford University Cumberland School of Law. Crist went on to work as general counsel to Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg. He was a candidate for public office for the first time in 1986 as a Republican running for a state Senate seat in Pinellas County. He lost and returned to practicing law briefly until he became an aide to Connie Mack III in his successful 1988 U.S. Senate campaign. Crist describes Mack as his political mentor. Crist was elected in 1992 to the Florida Senate from the 20th District, which encompassed parts of St. Petersburg and South Tampa. He was reelected in He was elected Florida education commissioner in 2000 and in 2002 he was elected Florida s attorney general. As attorney general, Crist disagreed with Governor Jeb Bush on certain issues and received criticism for his handling of the Terri Schiavo case. In 2007 Crist was inaugurated governor of Florida, but angered fellow Republicans for supporting Obama s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of Crist did not run for reelection in 2010 and instead ran for the U.S. Senate against former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio. After losing the Republican primary to Rubio, Crist ran in the general election as an independent and lost to Rubio. He then worked as a lawyer at Morgan & Morgan in Tampa. He lost the 2014 Florida gubernatorial election in which he was a Republican. He then switched parties again and was elected to represent Florida s 13th District as a Democrat. 13 Elected: 2016 Education: U. of FL, B.A., 1978; Samford U., J.D., 1981 Religion: Methodist Family: Married (Carole), 2 stepchildren Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Strongly favors expanding Obamacare Supports same sex marriage Supports lifting the U.S. embargo against Cuba Favors environmental protection measures As governor, Crist supported capital punishment Shifted from strictly pro-life in his early career to a more nuanced position on abortion as a Democrat House Committee on Financial Services House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Charlie Crist (D) Votes: 184,693 Percent: 51.9% David Jolly (R) Votes: 171,149 Percent: 48.1% Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; Heather Caygle, Charlie Crist s last shot at redemption, POLITICO, September 3, 2016; National Journal Almanac, 2017.

17 Congresswoman Kathy Castor Kathy Castor, a Democrat first elected in 2006, draws on her background as an environmental lawyer to staunchly uphold Democratic positions in energy debates. At the same time, Castor often works closely with Republicans to protect her district s sprawling MacDill Air Force Base. When five-term Democratic Rep. Jim Davis decided to run for governor in 2006, opening up a safe Democratic district, Kathy Castor entered the contest, benefiting from the familiarity of the Castor name from her mother s Senate race. In a district where Democrats enjoyed a nearly 2-to-1 advantage over Republicans, she won the general election 70%-30%. In the House, Castor established a liberal voting record. From her early days in Congress, she positioned herself for future roles in the Democratic leadership. Typically a party loyalist, Castor is among the lawmakers who have introduced a constitutional balanced-budget amendment, normally a GOP priority, and in 2007 was one of only eight House Democrats to oppose the expansion of the State Children s Health Insurance Program, complaining that Senate revisions to the bill made its benefits less favorable for Florida. In the 2016 election, she is running against Christine Quinn. 14 Elected: 2006 Education: Emory U., B.A., 1988; FL St. U., J.D., 1991 Religion: Presbyterian Family: Married (Bill), 2 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Strongly favors job creation, workforce development, skills training, and workers rights Strongly favors preserving civil rights sites Strongly favors voting rights protections House Committee on Energy and Commerce Kathy Castor (D) Votes: 195,789 Percent: 61.8% Christina Quinn (R) Votes: 121,088 Percent: 38.2% Sources: U.S. Representative Kathy Castor,, September 15, 2016; Ballotpedia, Florida s 14th Congressional District Elections, September 15, 2016.

18 Congressman Dennis Ross Republican Dennis Ross shares the staunchly conservative views of his GOP colleagues in the Class of 2010, but shuns incendiary rhetoric and is a bit of a loner, rarely attending group events. When GOP Rep. Adam Putnam announced plans in 2008 to run for state commissioner of agriculture, Ross jumped into the race for his seat. In the August primary, he trounced fellow Republican John Lindsey, a businessman and political neophyte, winning 69% of the vote. In the general election, he faced Democrat Lori Edwards, the Polk County supervisor of elections, and tea party nominee Randy Wilkinson. Ross won convincingly, 48% to 41%, with 11% of the vote going to Wilkinson. He was unopposed in In his first year in the House, Ross was among those tied for most-conservative member, according to National Journal s annual rankings. He was unapologetic about his wholehearted opposition to Obama s legislative agenda and his unwillingness to give Republican House Speaker John Boehner much leeway to negotiate a deal to raise the nation s debt ceiling in He joined the Tea Party Caucus and countered accusations from members of the Congressional Black Caucus that the movement is racist. As a member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Ross chaired the subcommittee overseeing federal workforce issues and proved himself a faithful ally of then-chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA). In December 2012, Ross was given a seat on the Financial Services Committee. 15 Elected: 2010 Education: Auburn U., B.S., 1981; Samford U., J.D., 1987 Religion: Presbyterian Family: Married (Cindy), 2 children Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Supports zero-based budgeting by the federal government Supports repealing Obamacare in its entirety Introduced legislation to complete the construction of the 700-mile fence along the US s southwest border Has an A+ rating from the NRA House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform House Committee on Financial Services Dennis Ross (R) Votes: 182,999 Percent: 57.5% Jim Lange (D) Votes: 135,475 Percent: 42.5% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Dennis Ross, Ballotpedia, 2016; electdennisross.com.

19 Congressman Vern Buchanan Vern Buchanan, a Republican first elected in 2006, is the survivor of a couple unusually tough reelection campaigns, but the pain has been mostly self-inflicted. His business dealings and campaign finances have attracted the notice of both federal investigators and Democratic challengers. Buchanan founded American Speedy Printing Centers and made his fortune by selling 700 quick-printing franchises before his 40th birthday. In 1990, he moved his family to Florida, where he found new success as an automobile dealer with franchises throughout the Southeast. In 2006, Buchanan prevailed in the general election against Democratic opponent Christine Jennings, but Jennings filed a lawsuit alleging there a gross undercount due to voting machine malfunction she eventually dropped her lawsuit. In the House, Buchanan softened his ideological positions and was one of 19 Republicans who supported most of the Democrats early legislative agenda when they took control of the House in During the summer of 2011, the Sarasota Herald- Tribune reported that during the past year Buchanan had spent almost $1 million in campaign contributions on himself, companies he owned, or family members. By 2012, both the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee were looking into Buchanan s campaign-related activities. Over that summer, the ethics committee cleared Buchanan of wrongdoing, and in September, his office announced that the Justice Department had concluded its probe without charging him. 16 Elected: 2006 Education: Cleary U., B.B.A., 1975; U. of Detroit, M.B.A., 1986 Religion: Baptist Family: Married (Sandra), 2 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office In favor of repealing the ACA s mandate on business Supports a balanced budget amendment to bring stability to the US economy In favor of a 21st century version of Reagan s Greenspan Commission to help keep Social Security and Medicare solvent Supports negotiating and implementing more bi-lateral Free Trade Agreements to enable domestic exports House Committee on Ways and Means Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016, Ballotpedia, 2016, vernbuchanan.com/issues, 2016 Vern Buchanan (R) Votes: 230,654 Percent: 59.8% Jan Schneider (D) Votes: 155,262 Percent: 40.2%

20 Congressman Tom Rooney Tom Rooney, a Republican elected in 2008, is a former military prosecutor and West Point instructor who holds firmly conservative views. In a highly polarized House, Rooney is unusual for how often he works with Democrats. The grandson of Pittsburgh Steelers founding owner Art Rooney, he was born in Philadelphia and was a water boy for the team. The Steelers were his second largest single campaign contributor between 2008 and Rooney briefly attended Syracuse University, where he earned a spot as a tight end and deep snapper. But with no desire for a professional football career, Rooney transferred to Washington and Jefferson College outside Pittsburgh, where he played both football and golf. He was a staff assistant for former Republican Sen. Connie Mack of Florida, and then got a law degree from the University of Miami, where he met his wife. After graduation, Rooney was a special assistant U.S. attorney at Fort Hood in Texas, and later taught constitutional and criminal law at West Point. Republican Charlie Crist, the Florida attorney general, hired Rooney as an assistant attorney general in After leaving the attorney general s office, he headed a home for abused children and went into private practice as a lawyer. Rooney was first elected to Florida s 16th District (later dramatically redrawn in 2010 reapportionment). In the general election, Rooney challenged freshman Democrat Tim Mahoney, who was the favorite. But in October, ABC News broke the story that Mahoney had paid a former aide $121,000 to keep quiet about their affair after he ended the relationship and fired her. The incumbent admitted to having multiple affairs while in Congress. Rooney shot up nearly 25 points in the polls and ultimately won with 60% of the vote. 17 Elected: 2008 Education: Washington and Jefferson Col., B.A., 1993; U. of FL, M.A., 1996; U. of Miami, J.D., 1999 Religion: Catholic Family: Married (Tara), 3 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports cutting Pentagon waste Strongly favors improving mental health in the military Opposes eased relations with Cuba Strongly opposes illegal immigration House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence House Committee on Appropriations Sources: NY Times, 2017; National Journal Almanac, Tom Rooney (R) Votes: 209,348 Percent: 62.0% April Freeman (D) Votes: 115,974 Percent: 34.0%

21 Congressman Brian Mast Brian Mast was born in Grand Rapids, MI in He enlisted in the U.S. Army out of high school and served from 2000 to 2012, filling a variety of different roles, including explosive ordnance disposal, airborne infantry and combat engineer, and ultimately ending up at the U.S. Army s Joint Special Operations Command. Mast sustained severe injuries from an accident that occurred while he was serving in Afghanistan, and he received awards for valor, merit, sacrifice and achievement. Since his retirement from the army, he has worked in the National Nuclear Security Administration s Office of Emergency Operations and thereafter as an explosive specialist with the TSA. 18 Elected: 2016 Education: Palm Beach Atlantic U., 2002; American Military U., 2010; Harvard Extension School, A.L.B., 2015 Religion: Christian Family: Married (Brianna), 3 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Strongly against Obamacare Strongly against abortion Supports building the Keystone XL pipeline Does not support gun-control legislation Does not support government funding for the development of renewable energy House Committee on Foreign Affairs House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Sources: Ballotpedia, 2016; National Journal Almanac 2016; votesmart.org, 2016; LinkedIn, Brian Mast (R) Votes: 201,488 Percent: 53.6% Randy Perkins (D) Votes: 161,918 Percent: 43.1%

22 Congressman Francis Rooney Francis Rooney was born in Oklahoma in One of six children, Rooney earned his bachelor s degree from Georgetown University in 1975 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in Rooney has spent over three decades in business, serving as chairman of Rooney Holdings, Inc. and, since 2008, as chief executive officer of Manhattan Construction Group. Rooney has been an active participant in GOP politics, working to elect conservatives to office in Florida and throughout the U.S. He was appointed the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See in 2005, a position he held until Rooney has served on a number of boards and councils, including the Board of Advisors of the Panama Canal Authority and the Strategic Planning Committee of the St. Francis Health System. He and his wife, Kathleen, live in Southwest Florida and have three children and two grandchildren. Rooney defeated his opponent in the race to represent Florida s 19th congressional district, Robert Neeld, in November 2016, winning by 66% to 34%. 19 Elected: 2016 Education: Georgetown U., A.B., 1975, J.D., 1978 Religion: Roman Catholic Family: Married (Kathleen), 3 children, 2 grandchildren Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Strongly opposes the Affordable Care Act Strongly favors reducing spending and the national debt Strongly supports the Second Amendment Favors congressional term limits Joint Economic Committee House Committee on Education and the Workforce House Committee on Foreign Affairs Francis Rooney (R) Votes: 239,225 Percent: 65.9% Robert Neeld (D) Votes: 123,812 Percent: 34.1% Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; U.S. Department of State Archive,, Francis Rooney; National Journal Almanac, 2017.

23 Congressman Alcee Hastings Alcee Hastings is an enduringly popular figure with Democratic colleagues in the House and South Florida constituents despite his brushes with an assortment of scandals. After graduating from law school he moved to Fort Lauderdale to practice law. Following a failed Senate campaign in 1970, he became a state judge in Broward County in 1977, and in 1979 he was appointed a federal judge. His career took a sharp turn downward when he was charged with conspiring with a friend to take a $150,000 bribe and give two convicted swindlers light sentences. A Miami jury acquitted Hastings in 1983, but the friend was convicted. The House and Senate voted to successfully have him impeached. Years later the Department of Justice found that an FBI agent falsely testified against Hastings. When the 23rd District was created in 1992, he ran to represent it and eventually won with a vote of 59% to 31%. In the House, Hastings voting record has been mostly liberal. He blasted a GOP-passed defense authorization bill in December 2011 for going too far in the name of fighting terrorism. In 2004, Hastings was elected president of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in the pan-european Parliamentary Assembly and served two one-year terms, and in 2007 he became chairman of the counterpart U.S. commission. 20 Elected: 1992 Education: Fisk U., B.A., 1958; Howard U., 1960; FL A&M, J.D., 1963 Religion: African Methodist Episcopal Family: Divorced, 3 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports pro-choice legislation Supports same-sex marriage Opposes repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act Opposes building the Keystone XL pipeline Supports gun-control legislation Supports federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions House Committee on Rules Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Research, Alcee Hastings (D) Votes: 222,914 Percent: 80.3% Gary Stein (R) Votes: 54,646 Percent: 19.7%

24 Congresswoman Lois Frankel Democrat Lois Frankel won election in 2012 to the newly redrawn 22nd District to succeed Republican firebrand Allen West, who ran and lost in the nearby 18th District. Despite a reputation in local and state government as a staunch liberal, Frankel focused her campaign on her willingness to reach across the aisle. Frankel was born and raised in New York City. Her father was in manufacturing, and her mother was a homemaker. Frankel was a tomboy growing up and enjoyed playing sports, especially basketball. She studied psychology at Boston University with the intent of becoming a psychiatrist, but her career plans changed when she became involved in the social movements of the late 1960s. Hoping to be a change agent from the inside, Frankel decided to go to law school. After getting her degree from Georgetown University, she spent a year as a law clerk for Superior Court Judge David Norman and then moved to West Palm Beach. Her first run for public office was in 1986, when she ran successfully for an open state House seat. She eventually rose to become the first woman minority leader in Florida history. Term limits forced Frankel to leave the Florida House in She ran for mayor of West Palm Beach and defeated incumbent Mayor Joel Daves. In the 2012 general election campaign against former state Rep. Republican Adam Hasner, the Miami Herald endorsed Frankel, citing her longer familiarity with the district, and its Democratic lean helped her pull out a 55%-45% win. 21 Elected: 2012 Education: Boston U., B.A., 1970; Georgetown U., J.D., 1973 Religion: Jewish Family: Divorced, 1 child Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Favors higher taxes on the wealthy Favors economic stimulus Strongly opposes privatizing Social Security Favors expanding Obamacare Strongly favors laws against job discrimination Favors green energy and investing in infrastructure and technology House Committee on Foreign Affairs House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Lois Frankel (D) Votes: 210,606 Percent: 62.7% Paul Spain (R) Votes: 118,038 Percent: 35.1% Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia 2016.

25 Congressman Ted Deutch Democrat Ted Deutch won his seat in a special election in April 2010 to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Robert Wexler. He is a liberal with a staunchly pro-israel posture on foreign policy, very much in the mold of Wexler, but without his predecessor s in-your-face style. Deutch (Doitch) has working-class roots in Bethlehem, Pa., where his father ran a small painting contracting company and his mother kept the books. His parents did not go to college and were determined that their five children would. At the University of Michigan, Deutch majored in political science and volunteered in political campaigns during summers, including working for unsuccessful Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in He also caught the eye of an academic advisor who encouraged him to apply for a Harry S. Truman Scholarship, which recognizes college students with potential for a career in public service. In 2006, he ran successfully for a Florida Senate seat. In a little over three years in the legislature, Deutch authored two signature pieces of legislation: a bill putting a surcharge on tobacco products to help pay for smoking prevention programs and cancer research, and another measure barring the state from investing pension funds in any enterprise that aided Iran s effort to attain nuclear weapons or that indirectly abetted genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan. When Wexler announced he would resign his seat in the middle of his term, Deutch announced his candidacy for the U.S. House seat the next day. 22 Elected: 2010 Education: U. of MI, B.A., 1988, J.D., 1990 Religion: Jewish Family: Married (Jill), 3 children Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports a ban on corporate money in politics Supports abortion rights Supports funding for renewable energy Supports gun-control legislation Strongly opposes the privatization of social security Supports marriage equality In favor of the government regulating greenhouse gas emissions House Committee on Ethics House Committee on Foreign Affairs House Committee on the Judiciary Ted Deutch (D) Votes: 199,113 Percent: 59.0% Andrea Leigh McGee (R) Votes: 138,737 Percent: 41.0% Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia.

26 Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat elected in 2004, was tapped as chairman of the Democratic National Committee in April 2011 in acknowledgment of her skills as a media messenger and fundraiser. Like many of her constituents, Wasserman Schultz was born in Queens. She got bachelor s and master s degrees from the University of Florida. In her last year at school, Florida State Rep. Peter Deutsch, a Democrat and former Ne Yorker from Broward County, gave her a summer job and then appointed her as his legislative aide. In 1992, he ran for the 20th District House seat and urged Wasserman Schultz to run for his seat in the legislature. She served eight years in the state House, followed by four years in the state Senate. When Deutsch ran in 2004 for the Democratic nomination for the state s open Senate seat, Wasserman Schultz moved to again replace Deutsch, this time in Congress. She won that election handily and has not faced a serious challenge since, allowing her to channel campaign contributions from a wide spectrum of Democratic interests to her colleagues. In the House, she has a mostly liberal voting record, although it s more centrist on foreign policy. In 2011, Wasserman Schultz beat out former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland to take the helm of the DNC. She brushed aside speculation from some colleagues that she couldn t balance her duties with the demands of her House seat. In 2016, controversy swirled around her chairmanship of the DNC, as leaked correspondence revealed that some in the organization expressed a preference for Hillary Clinton s presidential candidacy over insurgent Bernie Sanders s. This culminated in her stepping down as DNC chair. 23 Elected: 2004 Education: U. of FL, B.A., 1988, M.A., 1990 Religion: Jewish Family: Married (Steve), 3 children Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Advocate for a woman s right to choose Believes that efforts to repeal or defund the ACA are not productive in working toward quality, more affordable healthcare for all Americans Believes that energy policy should dramatically reduce US emissions of greenhouse gases over the next several decades Supports robust funding for Pell grants, as well as legislation to allow students to refinance their loans at the same low rates available to new borrowers House Committee on the Budget House Committee on Appropriations Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) Votes: 183,225 Percent: 56.7% Joe Kaufman (R) Votes: 130,818 Percent: 40.5% Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia 2017.

27 Congresswoman Frederica Wilson Frederica Wilson, who was among the few Democrats elected to the House in 2010, is best known for her hundreds of brightly colored, often rhinestone-studded hats. She has compiled a solidly liberal voting record while speaking out on behalf of her low-income constituents, particularly Haitian-Americans. In 1963, Wilson graduated from Fisk University with a bachelor s degree in elementary education. She worked as a teacher for a time and then became an assistant educational coordinator for a Head Start program. She became assistant principal and eventually principal of a Miami elementary school. She also served on the Miami-Dade County School Board. During that period, she became more politically active. In 1984, she got involved in a campaign to lobby Congress to remove Haitian refugees from a local detention center. Wilson first won a seat in the Florida House in 1998, serving two terms before being elected to the state Senate. In office, she continued her work on immigrants rights issues and education. In 2004, she led a sometimes bitter fight against then-gov. Jeb Bush to scale back the use of standardized testing in schools, which she believes has a negative impact on children. In August 2010, Wilson ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, winning the primary with 35% of the vote and the general with 86% against an independent candidate. In the House, Wilson drew immediate publicity when she was barred from wearing her hats on the House floor. She established herself as one of the chamber s most liberal members and became active in the Congressional Black Caucus. 24 Elected: 2010 Education: Fisk U., B.A., 1963; U. of Miami, M.Ed., 1972 Religion: Episcopalian Family: Widow, 3 children, 5 grandchildren Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports pro-choice legislation Favors government funding for the development of renewable energy Supports gun-control legislation Favors a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants Does not support requiring states to adopt federal education standards House Committee on Education and the Workforce House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Frederica Wilson (D) Unopposed Percent: 100% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2016.

28 Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart The Díaz-Balarts fled Cuba in 1959 shortly after Castro took over. Díaz-Balart dropped out of the University of South Florida at age 24 to work for former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez, a Republican. In 1988, he was elected to the Florida House; four years later, at age 31, he became the youngest person ever elected to the state Senate. Díaz-Balart was named chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, where he was a budget hawk. Díaz-Balart requested and received the chairmanship of the congressional redistricting committee, which played a major role in him winning his first Congressional election against State Rep. Annie Betancourt. In the House, his voting record has generally been conservative on economic and foreign policy and more moderate on cultural issues. Republican leaders, eager to diversify their caucus, made him an assistant whip and gave him a coveted seat on the Appropriations Committee. Díaz-Balart organized the Congressional Hispanic Conference, a Republican alternative to the Democrats Congressional Hispanic Caucus. With his brother and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, also of South Florida, he supported a bill to allow children of illegal immigrants to qualify for college. He decided to run for Florida s 25th district previously he was in Florida s 21st after his brother retired and was unopposed. 25 Elected: 2010 Education: U. of South FL Religion: Roman Catholic Family: Married (M. Tia), 1 child Contact: (202) Cannon House Office Opposes the Affordable Care Act Supports balancing the budget Supports increasing defense spending Supports stricter scrutiny before granting refugees asylum Supports energy independence Supports restoration of the Everglades House Committee on the Budget House Committee on Appropriations Mario Díaz-Balart (R) Votes: 157,921 Percent: 62.4% Alina Valdes (D) Votes: 95,319 Percent: 37.6% Sources: National Journal Almanac, Ballotpedia 2017.

29 Congressman Carlos Curbelo Curbelo was born in Miami to two Cuban exiles who fled the Castro regime in the 1960s. In 2002, Curbelo founded Capital Gains, a consulting firm, and worked as a lobbyist and as a campaign adviser. In 2009, Curbelo was state director for then-sen. George LeMieux of Florida, advising the GOP lawmaker on Latin American policy and Hispanic issues. In 2010, he was elected to the Miami-Dade County School Board, a job he said he was inspired to seek after the birth of his first child. Curbelo faced a primary challenge from former Rep. David Rivera, who had lost his seat to Garcia in 2012 amid a scandal over a complicated campaign financing scheme. The Republican establishment, seeing a strong opportunity to take the seat away from Garcia, rallied around Curbelo, who won a four-way primary with 47 percent of the vote. The general election pitted Curbelo against Joe Garcia. Both had similar views on a central issue immigration and different troubles with comments they had made on Florida-centric issues. Curbelo was criticized for calling Social Security and Medicare a "Ponzi scheme. He broke with his party by supporting the Dream Act. Curbelo pledged to work to pass an immigration-reform package, reduce the national debt, and create a "consumer-driven" health care system. In the 2016 general, Curbelo and Garcia faced off again. Curbelo won with 53% of the vote. 26 Elected: 2014 Education: U. of Miami, B.A., 2002, M.P.A., 2011 Religion: Roman Catholic Family: Married (Cecilia), 2 children Contact: (202) Longworth House Office Supports criminal justice reform that focuses on rehabilitation Opposes softening of U.S.-Cuba relations Opposes Obama-era immigration executive orders Supports Israel s interests as one of the United States closest allies in the MENA region Supports stronger relations between the U.S. and Latin America House Committee on Ways and Means Carlos Curbelo (R) Votes: 148,547 Percent: 53.0% Joe Garcia (D) Votes: 115,493 Percent: 41.2% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017.

30 Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in 1989 became the first Cuban-American and the first Hispanic woman elected to Congress. Since then, she has blazed an unusual political trail generally conservative on fiscal and foreign policy matters with moderate-to-liberal stances on gay rights, immigration, and other social issues that have kept her popular at home. When Republicans won a House majority in 1995, she refused to sign the party s Contract with America policy manifesto and was a harsh critic of Republican attempts to pass English-only legislation, to cut off welfare benefits for legal immigrants she voted against the 1996 welfare bills and to reduce the immigration quota for relatives of U.S. citizens. In the 2007 debate over immigration, she pleaded with Republicans not to alienate the growing Hispanic voting bloc. Ros-Lehtinen backed Republican Mitt Romney s presidential bid despite his hardline immigration stance, saying his position on economic issues mattered far more to her. When Republicans reclaimed control of the House in 2011, Ros- Lehtinen took over as chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. She developed an extremely tight relationship with the panel s ranking Democrat, Howard Berman of California, and they worked closely on imposing economic sanctions on Iran as a response to its developing a nuclear program. She was opposed to both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in the 2016 general election for president. 27 Elected: 1989 Education: FL Int l U., B.A., 1975; U. of Miami, Ed.D., 2004 Religion: Episcopalian Family: Married (Dexter), 2 children, 2 stepchildren, 1 grandchild Contact: (202) Rayburn House Office Supports lowering taxes on families and small businesses Supports the DREAM Act Pro-life Supports gay-marriage and LGBTQ rights Opposes relaxing embargo on Cuba House Committee on Foreign Affairs House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Sources: National Journal research, 2016; Ballotpedia, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) Votes: 157,917 Percent: 54.9% Scott Fuhrman (D) Votes: 129,760 Percent: 45.1%