Miami
FLORIDA Orange County firefighters union backs Mike Haridopolos for re-election to Congress
The organization, which represents 1,400 firefighters and public safety workers, had endorsed Democrat Darren Soto in another Florida district just two weeks earlier. It has now thrown its support behind Haridopolos in the 8th District.
The Orange County Fire Fighters Association has endorsed Republican Mike Haridopolos in his bid for re-election in Florida’s 8th Congressional District, according to Florida Politics.
The outlet reported that the endorsement came from IAFF Local 2057, which represents 1,400 firefighters and public safety professionals. The move came two weeks after the same union backed Democrat Darren Soto in Florida’s 9th Congressional District.
Florida Politics said union president Chris Ritchie pointed to Haridopolos’ support for public safety and his work to secure federal investments for local infrastructure, emergency preparedness and the communities served by first responders.
Haridopolos said he was honored by the endorsement and argued he would continue supporting firefighters and emergency personnel while backing resources and policies favorable to them. The outlet added that he voted for the July 2025 tax package that created an overtime deduction.
Florida Politics reported that the congressional map signed in May by Gov. Ron DeSantis significantly reshaped the 8th District by dropping Indian River County and extending west into Orange County, adding about 160,000 residents there. Under the new lines, Donald Trump carried the district with 57% in 2024.
That race now includes Democrat Jennifer Jenkins, a former Brevard County School Board member who moved to the 8th District after the new map was signed. A Public Policy Polling survey released by her campaign in July showed Haridopolos leading 44% to 35%, according to Florida Politics.
The outlet also noted that Haridopolos had support in 2024 from DeSantis, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, the full Florida Cabinet, the Florida Police Benevolent Association and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. It also reported that Donald Trump endorsed his re-election last October.
Haridopolos served in the Florida House from 2000 to 2003 and in the Florida Senate from 2003 to 2012, including his final two years as Senate President. In 2024, he won the open 8th District seat with 62% of the vote after Bill Posey retired and endorsed him, Florida Politics said.
In Washington, he chairs the House Science Committee’s Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee and also serves on the Financial Services Committee. Florida Politics added that the full Science Committee passed the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026 in February and that Haridopolos directed more than $20 million in federal infrastructure funding to Port Canaveral in April.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
