Republican · Florida's 26th District · 2026
Mario Díaz-Balart
Díaz-Balart comes from a family deeply involved in politics, including his Cuban exile father and his brother Lincoln, who also served in Congress.
Biography
Mario Díaz-Balart was born in Fort Lauderdale in 1961, the youngest of four brothers, and now lives in Miami with his wife, Tia, and their son.1 One older brother, Lincoln, also served in Congress.2 Mario attended Miami Shores Preparatory High School, graduating in 1979, and studied political science at the University of South Florida.21
Before his legislative career, he worked as a marketing executive.2 He served in Florida's House from 1988 through 1992, moved to the state Senate from 1992 through 2000, and returned to the House until 2002.2 He won election to Congress that year and took office in January 2003.2
Now in his twelfth House term, Díaz-Balart is dean of Florida's congressional delegation and a deputy whip.1 He is vice chairman of Appropriations and chairs its National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee, while also serving on the Defense Subcommittee.1
His priorities include border security, domestic energy production, veterans, small businesses and reducing government waste.1 Abroad, he emphasizes support for Israel and Taiwan and opposition to authoritarian governments including those in Cuba and Venezuela.1 He was an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Dignity Act immigration proposal introduced in 2025.3 He faces Democrat Nicole Locklin in the 26th District.4
Record and controversies
Homestead exemption review closed
In October 2018, complaints prompted a county property appraiser review of Díaz-Balart's Florida homestead exemption, against the background of questions about mortgage documents identifying residences in Florida and the Washington area.5 An October 19 update reported that the county found no homestead exemption fraud; his office said Miami was the family homestead and that lenders knew the circumstances.5