Who is running for Florida House, District 70 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Florida House, District 70 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Florida House District 70.
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 | Michael OwenRepublican | Luther Keith WilkinsDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Guns | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightVoted · medium | No public position |
| School choice | No public position | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · medium |
| Redistricting | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageVoted · medium | No public position |
| Term limits | Yes, strict limits, such as three House terms and two Senate termsOfficial action · medium | No public position |
Michael Owen
Republican · IncumbentFlorida State Representative, District 70
Michael Owen is an attorney and small business owner from Apollo Beach, born in Houston, with a 1999 bachelor's degree from Saint Leo University and a 2009 law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School13. He served on the Hillsborough County Commission from 2022 to 2024, resigned to run for the Florida House, defeated Luther Keith Wilkins in 2024 with 58.8 percent, and faces Wilkins again in House District 70 on November 3, 2026145.
Where they stand 5 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 759 (2025), which would have lowered the minimum age to buy a rifle or shotgun from 21 to 18; it died in the Senate; it passed the House 78 to 34. (2025-03-26) source
- Voted yes on HB 133 (2026), which would have lowered the minimum age to buy a rifle or shotgun from 21 to 18; it died in the Senate; it passed the House 74 to 37. (2026-01-15) source
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 at the governor's request; it passed the House 83 to 28. (2026-04-29) source
Term limitsYes, strict limits, such as three House terms and two Senate termsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Sponsored HJR 637 (2025), a proposed constitutional amendment limiting service in the Legislature to eight years in each chamber, sixteen years in total; it died in a House subcommittee. (2025) source
ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 2-C (2025), which created a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, funded local cooperation with federal immigration agents and required local law enforcement to take part; it passed the House 85 to 30. (2025-02-13) source
- Voted yes on SB 4-C (2025), which created state crimes for entering Florida after entering the country illegally and required those charged to be held without bond; it passed the House 85 to 29. (2025-02-13) source
- His campaign site says he passed the toughest immigration enforcement laws in the nation. (2026) source
Housing and growthNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- His campaign site says he would require a more stringent approval process for development. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Energy and climate, School choice, Curriculum and books, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, 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.
Luther Keith Wilkins
DemocratInsurance agent; U.S. Army veteran
Luther Keith Wilkins is a U.S. Army and Army National Guard veteran who served 12 years, then worked in real estate sales, newspaper advertising and automotive sales management, and now sells voluntary workplace benefits as a licensed insurance agent1. Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and living in Parrish, he served as president of the Manatee County NAACP, lost to Michael Owen in 2024 with 41.2 percent, and is running against Owen again in House District 70123.
Where they stand 2 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says billions in taxpayer dollars are being funneled to voucher programs and privately operated schools, draining neighborhood public schools, and that Florida should double down on public education. (2026) source
Housing and growthNo single answer fitsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says Florida must expand the supply of workforce and affordable housing while matching new development with investment in roads, schools, utilities and public safety, and should leverage existing state and local housing programs. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.