Who is running for Florida House, District 71 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Florida House, District 71 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Florida House District 71.
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 | Jordan VarnadoreRepublican | Ocean FittsDemocrat | Joseph HoolihanIndependent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety net programs | No public position | Expand help for childcare, housing and paid family leaveSaid · medium | No public position |
| Healthcare | No public position | Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)Said · medium | No public position |
| Abortion | No public position | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low | No public position |
| Guns | No public position | All of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesSaid · medium | No public position |
| Energy and climate | No public position | A gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesSaid · low | No public position |
| Curriculum and books | No public position | Keep access broad; removals should be rareSaid · medium | No public position |
| Marijuana | No public position | Legalize and regulate it like alcoholSaid · medium | No public position |
| Redistricting | No public position | Legislatures draw maps under strict neutral rules that courts can enforceSaid · low | No public position |
| Term limits | No public position | No term limits; voters should decide at each electionSaid · medium | No public position |
| Death penalty | No public position | Abolish it and use life without parole insteadSaid · medium | No public position |
Jordan Varnadore
RepublicanVice President of Marketing, GarrettRichard
Jordan Varnadore is a lifelong Palmetto resident who studied business marketing and communications at the University of Mississippi and is vice president of marketing at GarrettRichard, a business he co-founded with his father1. He is the Republican candidate for the open Florida House District 71 seat and faces Democrat Ocean Fitts and no party candidate Joseph Hoolihan on November 3, 20262.
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.
Ocean Fitts
DemocratPublic policy student
Ocean Fitts is a public policy student who lives in Palmetto and is completing a bachelor's degree in Public Policy and Administration at St. Petersburg College3. He is the Democratic candidate for the open Florida House District 71 seat and faces Republican Jordan Varnadore and no party candidate Joseph Hoolihan on November 3, 20261.
Where they stand 11 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium
Said · medium confidence- His issues page says healthcare is a fundamental human right, that he supports expanding Medicaid with universal coverage as Florida's goal, and that he is on record supporting Medicare for All as a long term national direction. (2026) source
Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium
Said · medium confidence- His issues page supports expanding Medicaid, paid family, medical and sick leave, and stronger affordable and workforce housing requirements for large developments. (2026) source
GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesmedium
Said · medium confidence- His issues page supports universal background checks, waiting periods, safe storage requirements, limits on high capacity magazines and assault weapons, and repeal of permitless carry and Stand Your Ground laws. (2026) source
Curriculum and booksKeep access broad; removals should be raremedium
Said · medium confidence- His issues page says he opposes book bans and political censorship in classrooms. (2026) source
MarijuanaLegalize and regulate it like alcoholmedium
Said · medium confidence- His issues page supports legalizing recreational cannabis and protecting workers from discipline for off duty, legal cannabis use. (2026) source
Term limitsNo term limits; voters should decide at each electionmedium
Said · medium confidence- His issues page supports repealing legislative term limits so voters decide who remains in office. (2026) source
Death penaltyAbolish it and use life without parole insteadmedium
Said · medium confidence- His issues page lists opposing the death penalty in his platform. (2026) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- His issues page lists opposing restrictive abortion bans in his platform. (2026) source
Energy and climateA gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentiveslow
Said · low confidence- His issues page supports clean energy and expanding solar power across Florida and opposes fracking and expanded oil and gas drilling in and around Florida. (2026) source
RedistrictingLegislatures draw maps under strict neutral rules that courts can enforcelow
Said · low confidence- His issues page supports Fair Districts to end partisan gerrymandering. (2026) source
School choiceNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- His issues page opposes expanding private school vouchers with public tax dollars, supports strong, well funded traditional public schools and supports accountability standards for charter schools. (2026) source
No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Immigration, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Gender care for minors, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, 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.
Joseph Hoolihan
IndependentLicensed real estate agent
Joseph Hoolihan describes himself as a small business owner and real estate agent running to represent Florida House District 71, which covers Manatee County2. He is running with no party affiliation for the open seat against Democrat Ocean Fitts and Republican Jordan Varnadore 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.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.