Republican · Florida's 11th District · 2026
Joe Strada
Strada got his start as a handyman at a bowling alley after high school.
Biography
Joe Strada met his future wife, Karen, while cashing a paycheck from his bowling alley job; she was the bank teller.1 The couple married in 1984 and raised three sons.1 He is also a grandfather and lives in Central Florida.2
One of six children, Strada moved with his family from Chicago to Longwood when he was twelve.1 He skipped college, worked at a bowling alley and helped run a doughnut shop before entering the air conditioning business.1 His training included accompanying experienced crews to learn how the systems he sold were installed and serviced.1
He founded electrical contractor Strada Services in 2003 and now serves as executive chairman, with a separate chief executive overseeing daily operations.1 The company provides electrical, air conditioning, plumbing and security services.2 Strada and his sons developed a program to train new tradespeople, which his campaign says has graduated hundreds of workers.2
Strada entered the congressional race with a pledge to support President Donald Trump's agenda and bring his business experience to federal government.2 He argues that excessive building regulations raise housing costs and favors stronger scrutiny of congressional stock trading.1 He is the Republican nominee seeking to succeed retiring Congressman Daniel Webster in Florida's 11th District.3
Record and controversies
Lawsuit over company grounding wire
Homeowners sued Strada Services, the company Strada founded and partly owns, alleging it installed electrical grounding wire that did not meet building requirements in homes built between 2020 and 2022.4 The allegations concern the company; the reporting does not establish that Strada personally directed improper installations.4 Company lawyers challenged whether homeowners provided the required notice before suing.4
By October 2026, Strada said inspection and repair efforts were underway, while the company disputed liability and the number of potentially affected homes remained unsettled.45 The inspection offer was not an admission of liability or a court finding that the allegations were proven.5