Vote the PersonNot the party
Candidate

Cindy Banyai

Democrat

Teacher, small business owner and nonprofit leader

Cindy Banyai holds a Ph.D. from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, has worked in community development for more than 20 years, and describes herself as a teacher, small business owner and nonprofit leader who is also a former professional boxer1. She is the Democratic candidate for Florida House District 78, an open seat, and faces Republican Susan Frantz on November 3, 20262.

Where they stand 6 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

  • Minimum wageRaise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her Fair & Free Florida plan calls for a $22 an hour minimum wage with annual increases based on the federal cost of living adjustment. (2026) source
  • School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her plan calls for ending private and religious school vouchers and moving administration of the Step Up scholarships into the Florida Department of Education. (2026) source
  • Childcare and pre-KOffer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her plan calls for universal all day pre-K and child care vouchers for working families. (2026) source
  • Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her plan calls for Medicaid expansion, child care vouchers, a 5 percent annual rental increase cap and full funding of the Sadowski affordable housing fund. (2026) source
  • Curriculum and booksLocally elected school boardsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Her plan calls for returning education choices to school districts, repealing the Stop WOKE Act and ending the Don't Say Gay law. (2026) source
  • AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
    Said · low confidence
    • Her campaign site says body autonomy has been denied in Florida and that she will restore freedom. (2026) source

No public position found on: Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.

Record

  • Was the Democratic nominee for U.S. House District 19 in 2020 and 2022 and lost to Byron Donalds both times, receiving 38.7 percent and 32.0 percent56.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.

Sources (6)

Every claim on this page links to one of these
  1. About CindyCindy Banyai for Florida
  2. Candidate Listing, 2026 General ElectionFlorida Division of Elections
  3. Bold Action: Fair & Free Florida planCindy Banyai for Florida
  4. Cindy Banyai for Florida | FL House 78Cindy Banyai for Florida
  5. 2020 General Election, Representative in Congress (official results)Florida Division of Elections
  6. 2022 General Election, Representative in Congress (official results)Florida Division of Elections