TAMPA, Fla. — With early voting already underway, voters in the Tampa Bay area are casting their ballots in multiple races, including the District 18 Congressional race.
Heading up the race is Republican incumbent Scott Franklin and the Democratic nominee Andrea Doria Kale.
The district covers several Florida counties, including DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee, most of Polk and a portion of Collier.
Here's what you need to know about the candidates in District 18:
Rep. Scott Franklin
Who is he: Franklin is currently serving as the representative for Florida's 18th Congressional District after being first elected in 2020, and recently beginning a second term in January 2023.
During Franklin's current term, he was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee where served on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Legislative Branch subcommittees.
He is also a part of the House Veterans Affairs Committee; House Science, Space and Technology Committee; and the Naval Academy Board of Visitors.
Outside of his political career, Franklin is a 20-year veteran in insurance and risk management, having led Lanier Upshaw in Lakeland as President and CEO before merging with BKS Partners in 2020.
Franklin also served as a naval aviator, flying jets on 13 aircraft carriers during 26 years of service, including 14 on active duty and 12 in the reserves.
Issues he's focused on: Based on Franklin's website, he places a large focus on Florida's agriculture industry.
He's introduced multiple pieces of legislation that would affect agriculture producers and the citrus industry, including the Block Grant Assistance Act, the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act and the Conservation Reserve Program Amendments Act.
In terms of the economy, the incumbent Republican supports lowering taxes, reducing spending and eliminating "excessive" regulations.
Franklin supports expanding access to health savings accounts, enabling recipients to set aside pre-tax dollars for their health care costs and the services HSAs cover. His website also explains he supports expanding telehealth services to broaden healthcare access for more families.
Andrea Doria Kale
Who is she: Originally from New York, Kale says she first found an interest in politics after spending the summer in Panama City in 1968. She describes watching the Republican National Convention, held in Miami Beach that year, when former President Richard Nixon received the nomination.
Kale previously ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2022 Midterm Elections against Representative Greg Steube, who currently serves Florida's 17th Congressional District. However, her website says due to Hurricane Ian, her campaign was "derailed" after her home was destroyed. She says insurance agencies placed her 85 miles out of the district in temporary housing.
Issues she's focused on: With previous experience in public health research, Kale is focused on preserving healthcare rights for Americans. She is advocating that Congress should fund and expand Medicaid across the country and move the Affordable Care Act to a single-payer system.
Kale also is an advocate for restoring Roe v. Wade after it was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.
She supports a wide range of legislation that covers issues such as expanding voter access, abortion access and improving law enforcement accountability.
Kale's website also explains she has an emphasis on addressing the needs of veterans, including issues related to disabilities, substance abuse, PTSD and economic challenges.
