Mario Díaz-Balart
Mario Díaz-Balart, a Republican who has served in the U.S. House since 2003 and represents Florida's 26th congressional district, seeks re-election in 2026 against Democrat Nicole Locklin, a lawyer.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Mario Díaz-Balart.
- Born
- September 25, 1961
- Birthplace
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Education
- University of South Florida (political science)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Mario Díaz-Balart was born on September 25, 1961, in Fort Lauderdale to Cuban parents, the politician Rafael Díaz-Balart and his wife, Hilda Caballero Brunet. His brother Lincoln Díaz-Balart represented Florida's 21st district from 1993 to 2011, and his other two brothers are José Díaz-Balart, a journalist, and Rafael Díaz-Balart, a banker. He studied political science at the University of South Florida.
Career
Díaz-Balart began his public service career in 1985 as an aide to Miami mayor Xavier Suárez, the same year he changed his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican. He was elected to the Florida House in 1988 and to the Florida Senate in 1992, and he returned to the Florida House in 2000.
In 2002 Díaz-Balart gave up his state house seat to run in the newly created 25th congressional district, which he won with 64% of the vote. In 2010 he ran in the 21st district, which his brother was vacating, and no other party fielded a candidate.
He was reelected unopposed in 2012 in the renumbered 25th district. He has been the dean of Florida's congressional delegation since April 2021.
In the 118th Congress he served on the Appropriations Committee, where he chaired the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, and he chairs the Congressional Hispanic Conference.
2026 race
Díaz-Balart, the Republican incumbent in Florida's 26th congressional district, was re-elected with 70.9% of the vote in 2024 and is his party's nominee again in 2026. His Democratic opponent is Nicole Locklin, a lawyer, and independent candidate Deborah Ann Meidinger Hosey is also on the ballot. The general election takes place on November 3, 2026.