Florida House races set in Districts 70, 71 and 72 as candidates qualified for 2026 election
Voters in three Florida House districts serving portions of Manatee County and the surrounding region will choose their next state representatives during the 2026 election cycle. Districts 70, 71 and 72 feature a mix of incumbent lawmakers, first-time candidates and challengers from the Republican, Democratic and No Party Affiliation (NPA) ranks.
The Republican and Democratic primaries are scheduled for Aug. 18, with the general election on Nov. 3. Candidates qualified through the Florida Division of Elections during the June qualifying period.
Florida House District 70
District 70 features a rematch between incumbent Republican Michael Owen and Democrat Luther Keith Wilkins.
Michael Owen (Republican, incumbent) was elected to the Florida House in 2024 after previously serving on the Hillsborough County Commission and the Port Tampa Bay Board. An attorney and small business owner from Apollo Beach, Owen earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Leo University and a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Luther Keith Wilkins (Democrat) is a U.S. Army and Army National Guard veteran who has worked in business leadership, real estate development and community advocacy. Wilkins has also served as president of the Manatee County NAACP and is seeking the District 70 seat after challenging Owen in 2024.
Florida House District 71
District 71 is an open seat following the departure of Republican Rep. Will Robinson. Three Republicans, one Democrat and one No Party Affiliation candidate have qualified.
Ocean Fitts (Democrat) is a Palmetto resident running for Florida House District 71. Fitts says his campaign focuses on improving affordability, strengthening government accountability and providing stable leadership for Manatee County. He is campaigning on issues that include public education, access to health care, environmental stewardship and expanding economic opportunities for working families.
Joseph Hoolihan (No Party Affiliation) is a real estate professional and business consultant from Bradenton with more than 20 years of experience in sales, customer service and business development. He has worked with several national homebuilders and now operates in the real estate industry while also producing a local podcast focused on Southwest Florida development and housing. Running with No Party Affiliation, Hoolihan says his campaign emphasizes independent leadership, government accountability, responsible growth and practical, community-focused solutions.
Melton Little (Republican) is a Bradenton native, attorney and managing partner of a Palmetto law firm with nearly four decades of legal experience. A graduate of Bayshore High School, Samford University and Cumberland School of Law, he also earned a Master of Laws degree in Health Law and Policy from Hofstra University. Little is a licensed real estate broker and has served in leadership roles with organizations including the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County, Keep Manatee Beautiful, the Manatee County Bar Association and the Manatee Chamber of Commerce.
Dylan Paul Modarelli (Republican) is an entrepreneur and former police officer seeking the Republican nomination for Florida House District 71. Raised by a single mother after losing his father at a young age, Modarelli has said his upbringing shaped his views on resilience and public service. He later built a jewelry business and has campaigned on issues including government accountability, support for working families, public safety and economic opportunity.
Jordan Varnadore (Republican) is a lifelong Palmetto resident and a graduate of Palmetto High School. He studied business marketing, communications, reputation management and public relations at the University of Mississippi. Varnadore is the vice president of marketing at GarrettRichard, the family business he co-founded with his father. A husband and father of four, he is active in local Republican politics and is campaigning on a platform that emphasizes constitutional rights, public safety, parental involvement in education and support for small businesses.
Florida House District 72
District 72 includes an incumbent Republican facing a primary challenge before the general election.
William “Bill” Conerly (Republican, incumbent) was elected to the Florida House in 2024 and represents District 72. A Lakewood Ranch resident, Conerly is an engineer by profession and previously served in the U.S. Army before entering public office.
John “Captain” Phillips (Republican) is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4) and a Republican candidate seeking to represent Florida House District 72. A longtime public servant, Phillips is running a grassroots campaign focused on managing growth through responsible infrastructure planning, protecting Florida's natural resources, supporting sustainable development, and emphasizing local decision-making in addressing community issues.
Harvey Shifrin (Democrat) is the Democratic candidate for District 72. Shifrin is an attorney and certified public accountant with decades of experience in law and finance. He has also worked with elementary and middle school students for 27 years through Odyssey of the Mind and Destination Imagination. His education experience includes serving as a substitute teacher at the elementary, middle and high school levels and as an adjunct professor at the John Marshall School of Law.
Winners of the Aug. 18 party primaries will advance to the Nov. 3 general election, where voters will decide representation for the three Florida House districts. District 70 will feature a Republican-Democratic contest, District 71 will send the Republican primary winner to face Democratic nominee Ocean Fitts and NPA candidate Joseph Hoolihan, and District 72’s Republican primary winner will face Democrat Harvey Shifrin in November.