Republican · Florida's 8th District · 2026
Mike Haridopolos
Haridopolos began his career teaching American history and political science at a community college.
Biography
Mike Haridopolos began his career teaching American history and political science at Brevard Community College, now Eastern Florida State College.1 He lives in Indian Harbour Beach with his wife, Stephanie, a physician, and they have three adult children, Alexis, Hayden and Reagan.2
Born in Huntington, New York, Haridopolos graduated from Stetson University in 1992 and earned a master's degree at the University of Arkansas in 1993.3 His teaching career also included the University of Florida, where he worked as an instructor at the Bob Graham Center.1 He later became an author, consultant and television commentator.3
Haridopolos served in the Florida House from 2000 to 2003 and the Senate from 2003 to 2012, including two years as Senate president.3 After leaving the legislature, he established a business and political consulting company.1 He won election to Congress in 2024 following Bill Posey's retirement and took office in January 2025.13
His current priorities include the space industry, Indian River Lagoon water quality, housing affordability and a ban on congressional stock trading.4 He supports tighter voter verification, border security, spending restraint and congressional term limits.4 He also favors gun ownership rights and additional support for the military and veterans.4 In November, he faces Democrat Jennifer Jenkins for another term representing Florida's 8th District.5
Record and controversies
Financial disclosure admonishment
In 2011, the Florida Senate Rules Committee gave Haridopolos a letter of admonishment after he admitted errors in financial disclosures covering 2004 through 2008.6 The panel said the violations were neither willful nor intentional and noted that he had corrected the disclosures.6 Haridopolos had described the errors as unintentional, accepted responsibility and said he would accept the appropriate penalty.6