Mike Haridopolos
Mike Haridopolos, a Republican who has represented Florida's 8th congressional district since 2025 and earlier served as president of the Florida Senate, seeks re-election in 2026 against Democrat Jennifer Jenkins.
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- Born
- March 15, 1970
- Birthplace
- Huntington, New York
- Education
- Stetson University (Bachelor of Arts in history)
University of Arkansas (Master of Arts in history)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Mike Haridopolos was born on March 15, 1970, in Huntington, New York, to Ernest "Ernie" Adam Haridopolos and Georgia Haridopolos. His father was a Greek immigrant who served as an FBI agent.
Haridopolos received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Stetson University and a Master of Arts in history from the University of Arkansas.
Starting in 1993 he taught United States history and political science at Brevard Community College, now Eastern Florida State College, and from 2007 he taught as an instructor at the Bob Graham Center at the University of Florida.
He is married to Stephanie, and the couple have three children and live in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida.
Career
Haridopolos entered elected office in 2000, when he won an open seat in the Florida House of Representatives, and he was re-elected in 2002. After State Senator Howard Futch died in January 2003, he won the special election for the seat and served in the Florida Senate until 2012.
He was Majority Whip from 2006 to 2008 and was sworn in as President of the Florida Senate on November 16, 2010, for a two-year term. He sought the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2012 and ended that campaign in July 2011.
Haridopolos later owned and operated MJH Consulting, worked as a lobbyist in Florida, and in 2019 co-authored The Modern Republican Party in Florida with Peter Dunbar.
When Republican Bill Posey announced his retirement from Florida's 8th congressional district in April 2024, Haridopolos entered the race and won the seat in November 2024. He was sworn into the 119th Congress on January 3, 2025. He serves on the Committee on Financial Services and on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.
2026 race
Mike Haridopolos is seeking a second term in Florida's 8th congressional district, which he won with 62.2% of the vote in 2024, and he is the Republican nominee. His Democratic opponent is Jennifer Jenkins, a former Brevard County school board member who previously ran in the 6th district and became the nominee after caregiver Colby Shock withdrew from the Democratic primary. The two meet in the general election on November 3, 2026.