Who is running for Florida House, District 51 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Florida House, District 51 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Florida House District 51.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Octavio E. HernandezDemocrat | Hilary HolleyRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Redistricting | No public position | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageVoted · medium |
Octavio E. Hernandez
DemocratPrivate citizen
Octavio Hernandez immigrated from Mexico, grew up in Central Florida, holds a political science degree from the University of Central Florida and teaches algebra in Polk County schools as a union member, according to his campaign site2. He faces incumbent Republican Hilary Holley on November 3, 20261.
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, Curriculum and books, 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, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Hilary Holley
Republican · IncumbentFlorida State Representative, District 51
Hilary Holley of Polk City is a nonprofit executive director with an associate degree from Santa Fe College and a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida1. She won a special election on March 24, 2026, and faces Democrat Octavio Hernandez on November 3, 202612.
Where they stand 1 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
RedistrictingState legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantagemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1-D (2026), which redrew Florida's congressional districts in the middle of the decade; it passed the House 83 to 28. (2026-04-29) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-10-10. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.