Florida House of Representatives District 7
Florida House of Representatives District 7 is represented by Jason Shoaf (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Florida state representatives represented an average of 179,754 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 157,506 residents.
About the office
Members of the Florida House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits.[1] Members of the House may serve no more than four consecutive terms. Florida legislators assume office on the day they are elected in the general election.
Qualifications
Article III, Section 15 of the Florida Constitution states: "Each legislator shall be at least twenty-one years of age, an elector and resident of the district from which elected and shall have resided in the state for a period of two years prior to election."[2]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[3] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $29,697/year | $175/day for a maximum of 60 days. Members can also receive per diem outside of the session. |
Term limits
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
The Florida legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Florida Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Florida representatives are subject to term limits of no more than four two-year terms.
The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.[4]
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Florida State Legislature, a special election must be called to fill the vacant seat.[5] The governor is responsible for calling the election and must consult with the secretary of state to set the election dates and nominating deadlines.[6] The person elected to fill the seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.[7]
See sources: Florida Stat. § 100.101
2016 pivot county
This district was one of 710 state legislative districts that, based on boundaries adopted after the 2010 census, intersected with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.
The 206 Pivot Counties were located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. At that time, the partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties was slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.[8]
District map
Redistricting
2020-2022
On March 3, 2022, the Florida Supreme Court approved new legislative maps drawn by the Florida State Legislature. These maps took effect for Florida's 2022 legislative elections.
The maps were passed by the legislature as a joint resolution. The Florida State Senate voted 34-3 to approve the bill on January 20, and the Florida House of Representatives voted 77-39 to approve the bill on February 2.[9] Since the maps were passed as a joint resolution, they did not require the signature of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to become law. After the legislature approved the maps, they submitted them to Attorney General Ashley B. Moody (R), who then petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to review the maps on February 9.[10][11]
How does redistricting in Florida work? In Florida, both congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. Congressional lines are adopted as regular legislation and are subject to gubernatorial veto. State legislative lines are passed via joint resolution and are not subject to gubernatorial veto. State legislative district maps are automatically submitted to the Florida Supreme Court for approval. In the event that the court rejects the lines, the legislature is given a second chance to draft a plan. If the legislature cannot approve a state legislative redistricting plan, the state attorney general must ask the state supreme court to draft a plan. There are no similar procedures in place for congressional districts.[12]
The Florida Constitution requires that all districts, whether congressional or state legislative, be contiguous. Also, "where doing so does not conflict with minority rights, [districts] must be compact and utilize existing political and geographical boundaries where feasible." Districts cannot be drawn in such a way as to "favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent."[12][13]
Florida House of Representatives District 7
until November 7, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Florida House of Representatives District 7
starting November 8, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: Florida House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Florida House of Representatives District 7
Incumbent Jason Shoaf defeated Kenny Beasley in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 7 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jason Shoaf (R) | 77.4 | 70,440 | |
| Kenny Beasley (D) | 22.6 | 20,585 | ||
| Total votes: 91,025 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Kenny Beasley advanced from the Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jason Shoaf advanced from the Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7.
2022
General election
The general election was canceled. Jason Shoaf (R) won without appearing on the ballot.
2020
General election
General election for Florida House of Representatives District 7
Incumbent Jason Shoaf defeated Taymour Khan in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 7 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jason Shoaf (R) | 73.0 | 55,841 | |
| Taymour Khan (D) | 27.0 | 20,696 | ||
| Total votes: 76,537 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Taymour Khan advanced from the Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ryan Terrell (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jason Shoaf advanced from the Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ralph Thomas Jr. (R)
2019
A special election for District 7 of the Florida House of Representatives was called for June 18, 2019. A primary took place on April 9, 2019. Candidates wishing to run in this election were required to file by February 14, 2019.[14]
The seat became vacant after Halsey Beshears (R) resigned on January 11, 2019, to become the Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.[15][16]
General election
Special general election for Florida House of Representatives District 7
Jason Shoaf defeated Ryan Terrell in the special general election for Florida House of Representatives District 7 on June 18, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jason Shoaf (R) | 71.3 | 11,606 | |
| Ryan Terrell (D) | 28.7 | 4,671 | ||
| Total votes: 16,277 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7
Ryan Terrell advanced from the special Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7 on April 9, 2019.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Ryan Terrell | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7
Jason Shoaf defeated Mike Watkins, Lynda Bell, and Virginia Fuller in the special Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7 on April 9, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jason Shoaf | 49.0 | 4,709 | |
| Mike Watkins | 27.3 | 2,623 | ||
| Lynda Bell | 19.5 | 1,880 | ||
| Virginia Fuller | 4.2 | 408 | ||
| Total votes: 9,620 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
The general election was canceled. Incumbent Halsey Beshears won election in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 7.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7
Incumbent Halsey Beshears advanced from the Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Halsey Beshears | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Florida House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 30, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 24, 2016.
Incumbent Halsey Beshears ran unopposed in the Florida House of Representatives District 7 general election.[17][18]
| Florida House of Representatives, District 7 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican |  Halsey Beshears Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Florida Division of Elections | ||
Incumbent Halsey Beshears ran unopposed in the Florida House of Representatives District 7 Republican primary.[19][20]
| Florida House of Representatives, District 7 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Halsey Beshears Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Florida House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 26, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 20, 2014. Incumbent Halsey Beshears was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[21][22]
2012
Elections for the Florida House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 8, 2012. Halsey Beshears (R) defeated Robert Hill (D) in the general election. Beshears defeated Jamey Westbrook, Mike Williams and Don Curtis in the Republican primary. Hill defeated A.J. Smith and Thomas Dickens in the Democratic primary.[23][24]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Halsey Behshears |
60.7% | 40,930 | |
| Democratic | Robert Hill | 39.3% | 26,483 | |
| Total Votes | 67,413 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Halsey Beshears |
37.9% | 3,986 |
| Mike Williams | 24% | 2,518 |
| Jamey Westbrook | 20.9% | 2,193 |
| Don Curtis | 17.2% | 1,807 |
| Total Votes | 10,504 | |
Campaign contributions
From 2012 to 2024, candidates for Florida House of Representatives District 7 raised a total of $2,479,720. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $123,986 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Florida House of Representatives District 7 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $156,812 | 2 | $78,406 |
| 2022 | $133,631 | 1 | $133,631 |
| 2020 | $149,500 | 2 | $74,750 |
| 2019 | $552,995 | 5 | $110,599 |
| 2018 | $88,550 | 1 | $88,550 |
| 2016 | $125,346 | 1 | $125,346 |
| 2014 | $108,670 | 1 | $108,670 |
| 2012 | $1,164,216 | 7 | $166,317 |
| Total | $2,479,720 | 20 | $123,986 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Florida Senate Website Archive, "Florida Constitution," accessed December 16, 2013(referenced Article III, Section 15a)
- ↑ The Florida Senate, "Constitution of the State of Florida," accessed February 10, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Florida State Legislature, "Florida Constitution," accessed February 11. 2021
- ↑ Florida Legislature, "2023 Florida Statutes," accessed January 23, 2024 (Statute 100.101(2), Florida Election Code)
- ↑ Florida Legislature, "2023 Florida Statutes," accessed January 23, 2024 (Statute 100.141 (1) (2), Florida Election Code)
- ↑ Florida Legislature, "2023 Florida Statutes," accessed January 23, 2024 (Statute 100.111 (1) (a-c), Florida Election Code)
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
- ↑ Florida State Senate, "CS/SJR 100: Joint Resolution of Apportionment," accessed March 3, 2022
- ↑ Florida Politics, "Florida Legislature approves redistricting maps for Senate and House," February 3, 2022
- ↑ Florida Politics, "Ashley Moody petitions court on legislative maps as congressional redistricting continues to pitter," February 9, 2022
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 All About Redistricting, "Florida," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ Florida Constitution, "Article III, Sections 20-21," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "House District 7 Notice of Special Election (including qualifying information and reporting dates)," accessed January 29, 2019
- ↑ Florida Politics, "Special elections set for House members who joined Ron DeSantis administration," January 25, 2019
- ↑ Twitter, "Halsey Beshears on January 11, 2019," accessed January 29, 2019
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidate listing for 2016 general election," accessed September 12, 2016
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "November 8, 2016 Official Election Results," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidates and Races," accessed July 1, 2016
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "August 30, 2016 Official Election Results," accessed September 22, 2016
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "2014 Florida Election Watch - Multi-County or District Offices," accessed September 3, 2014
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Candidate Listing for 2014 General Election," accessed June 23, 2014
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Official 2012 General Election Results," accessed December 6, 2013
- ↑ Florida Secretary of State Elections Division, "Candidate List," accessed June 14, 2012
