Jenkins Switches Congressional Races, Now Targeting Haridopolos in District 8
Former school board member Jennifer Jenkins switches from challenging Randy Fine to targeting Mike Haridopolos after new congressional maps reshape district boundaries.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Former Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins announced Tuesday she is abandoning her campaign against Republican Randy Fine in Florida’s Sixth Congressional District and will instead challenge Republican Mike Haridopolos in the Eighth District.
The Democratic candidate’s decision comes after the Legislature passed new congressional maps that significantly altered district boundaries. The revised Eighth District keeps Brevard County whole while adding a portion of eastern Orange County, incorporating the University of Central Florida and surrounding areas.
Jenkins Cites Voter Concerns
“Once the Legislature passed these maps, I received several calls from around Brevard and Orange counties asking me to run here,” Jenkins said in a written statement. “District 8 voters have pain at the pump, a struggle to afford adequate health care, and a representative who dodges town halls and real conversations with the people he’s supposed to serve.”
Jenkins previously sought the U.S. Senate seat before entering the congressional race against Fine. Her latest move marks the second time this year she has switched races, drawing criticism from state Republican leadership.
Republican Party Responds
The Republican Party of Florida quickly responded to Jenkins’ announcement, questioning her commitment to any single district.
“Jennifer ‘Jumpin’ Jenkins keep jumping — race to race, district to district — chasing whatever might stick,” said RPOF Chairman Evan Power. “Floridians want a leader who fights for them and their community, not someone shopping for a seat.”
Electoral Changes
Jenkins’ switch may improve her electoral prospects compared to the Sixth District race. Fine won his CD 6 seat over Democrat Josh Weil in a special election by 14 points. That margin represented a significant improvement from previous elections, when then-GOP incumbent Mike Waltz won the seat by 30 points in 2024.
The new Eighth District map appears more competitive for Democrats than the previous configuration. While Donald Trump carried the district by more than 22 points in 2024, data analyst Matt Isbell indicates the redrawn CD 8 has become less Republican-leaning under the new boundaries.
Haridopolos brings extensive legislative experience to his congressional role. He served in the Florida Legislature from 2000 through 2012, including two years as Senate president. He was elected to represent CD 8 in 2024, entering the race on the final day of qualifying when then-GOP incumbent Bill Posey announced his retirement from Congress.
Several other Democratic and Republican candidates are expected to switch their congressional races following the passage of the new district maps by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Legislature. The redistricting process has created new opportunities and challenges for candidates across multiple districts as they reassess their electoral strategies.
