US House District 8: Mike Haridopolos to face Sandy Kennedy to represent Brevard County

Challengers vying to replace Bill Posey

US. House District 8 encompasses all of Brevard County and a small part of Orange County. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

Republican Mike Haridopolos won in his U.S. House District 8 race, beating John Hearton, according to the Associated Press.

The AP is also now reporting attorney Sandy Kennedy has won the Democratic primary, beating Dan McDow.

Recommended Videos



Congressman Bill Posey, the Republican who represented Brevard County in the U.S. House since 2009, announced earlier this year he would not run for another term and threw his support behind former Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos to replace him.

[RELATED: Here’s what will be on the Aug. 20 election ballot in Brevard County | Florida election voting guide]

U.S. House District 8 is a majority Republican district, according to registered voter statistics by the Florida Division of Elections, with 255,826 registered Republicans, 141,889 registered Democrats, and 134,614 no-party-affiliate voters.

Here’s what to know for the Democratic and Republican primaries for U.S. House District 8, which includes Brevard and Indian River counties and part of eastern Orange County.

Democratic candidates

Candidate

Votes

%

Sandy Kennedy (D)

24,68361%

Daniel McDow (D)

15,98339%
98.9% of Precincts Reporting

(187 / 189)

Democratic candidates for U.S. House District 8: Dan McDow and Sandy Kennedy. (McDow, Kennedy campaigns)

SANDY KENNEDY - Campaign Website

Sandy Kennedy is an attorney. Some of her stances on issues include eliminating abortion bans, supporting immigration reform and strengthening social security. Click here to read more.

DANIEL MCDOW - Campaign Website

Daniel McDow is a West Melbourne City Council member. His stances on issues include preserving a woman’s reproductive rights, making living more affordable and protecting the environment. Click here to read more.

Republican candidates

Candidate

Votes

%

Mike Haridopolos (R)

61,67972%

John Hearton (R)

18,59322%

Joseph Babits (R)

5,2486%
98.9% of Precincts Reporting

(187 / 189)

Republican candidates for U.S. House District 8: Joe Babits, Mike Haridopolos, and John Hearton (Babits, Haridopolos and Hearton campaigns)

JOE BABITS - Campaign Website

Joe Babits is an attorney. His stances on issues include securing the border, limiting term limits for U.S. Senate and House representatives, protecting veterans and reducing salary for members of Congress. Click here to read more.

UPDATE: Babits announced that he suspended his campaign on Tuesday, he confirmed to News 6. He has given his endorsement to John Hearton.

MIKE HARIDOPOLOS - Campaign Website

Mike Haridopolos served in the Florida House from 2000 to 2003, and in the Florida Senate from 2003 to 2012, presiding as Senate president from 2010 to 2012. Haridopolos then ran a political consulting company.

The Florida Senate has a list of bills he introduced in the Senate during each term in office on its website. You can find the bills he sponsored in the Florida House on that website.

His stances on issues include addressing illegal immigration, fixing the economy, addressing national debt, protecting the Indian River Lagoon and more. Click here to learn more.

JOHN HEARTON - Campaign Website

John Hearton is involved in technology councils and advisory panels, including advising the Department of Defense. His stance on issues includes securing the border, proposing term limits in Congress and backing a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Click here to read more.


Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: