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Under the latest reapportionment of the Florida Legislature, Lakeland is split between two Senate districts:
- District 12 includes all of Lakeland north of the Polk Parkway as well as most of Polk County north of State Road 60.
- District 27 includes all of Lakeland and its suburbs south of the Polk Parkway and extends south to Lee County.
Both district elections include one Republican and one Democrat, so neither race will be represented on the Aug. 23 primary. Both seats will be decided in the Nov. 7 general election.
The Districts
Colleen Burton, R, vs. Veysel Dokur, D
Ben Albritton, R, vs. Christopher Proia, D
District 12
This race will be decided in the Nov. 8 general election. Republican Colleen Burton is seeking to be elevated to the Florida Senate after serving the maximum eight years in the Florida House. Democrat Veysel Dokur is an IT engineer and first-time office seeker. Both are Lakeland residents.
Colleen Burton
- Republican
- Lakeland, age 64
- Website
- Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
- Campaign finance
- Campaign slogan: Proven. Conservative. Leadership
- Endorsements: Business Voice (Lakeland Chamber of Commerce), Polk County Builders Association, Florida Police Benevolent Association
News coverage:
- Burton-Dokur race among five Senate contests in Florida expected to be in play – Florida Politics, Sept. 3
- Colleen Burton faces newcomer Veysel Dokur in Senate race – The Ledger, Oct. 24
- Florida Senate candidates Dokur and Burton differ in priorities – LkldNow, Nov. 4
- Burton dominates fund-raising but could Dokur pull an upset – Florida Politics, Nov. 6
District 27
Republican incumbent Ben Albritton of Wauchula served in the Florida House for eight years before being elected in 2018 to the Senate, where he is in line to be Senate president for 2024-26. Democratic candidate Christopher Proia of Fort Myers is a truck driver and stand-up comedian.
Ben Albritton (incumbent)
- Republican
- Wauchula, age 53
- Website
- Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
- Campaign finance
- Campaign slogan: Faith. Families. Freedom.
- Endorsements: Business Voice (Lakeland Chamber of Commerce); former U.S. Reps. Dennis Ross and Tom Rooney; State Attorney Brian Haas; former Lakeland Mayor Howard Wiggs, Polk County Builders Association
Christopher Proia
- Democrat
- Fort Myers, age 40
- Website
- Facebook | Personal Facebook | LinkedIn
- Campaign finance
- Campaign slogan: Let’s flip Florida Blue together!
News coverage
- State candidates focus on water quality, education, guns – Fort Myers News Press, July 19
- Fort Myers truck driver challenges Ben Albritton for Senate – The Ledger, Oct. 23
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