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Mike Haridopolos

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Mike Haridopolos
Official House portrait of Haridopolos smiling in front of the U.S. flag, wearing a dark blue suit with American flag lapel pin, light blue shirt, and red tie
Official portrait, 2024
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2025
Preceded byBill Posey
President of the Florida Senate
In office
November 16, 2010 – November 20, 2012
Preceded byJeff Atwater
Succeeded byDon Gaetz
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 26th district
In office
March 25, 2003 – November 20, 2012
Preceded byHoward Futch
Succeeded byBill Galvano
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 30th district
In office
November 21, 2000 – March 25, 2003
Preceded byHoward Futch
Succeeded byThad Altman
Personal details
BornMichael John Haridopolos
(1970-03-15) March 15, 1970 (age 55)
Huntington, New York, U.S.
PartyRepublican
SpouseStephanie Haridopolos
Children3
EducationStetson University (BA)
University of Arkansas (MA)
WebsiteHouse website
Campaign website

Michael John Haridopolos[1] (born March 15, 1970) is an American politician, consultant, and former educator serving as the U.S. representative from Florida's 8th congressional district since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the Florida Senate from 2003 to 2012 and was Senate president from 2010 to 2012. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2003.

In 2024, Haridopolos was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 8th congressional district, an open seat following incumbent Bill Posey's decision not to seek reelection.[2]

Early life and education

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Haridopolos was born in Huntington, New York, to Ernest "Ernie" Adam Haridopolos (born 1931) and Georgia Haridopolos. His father was a Greek immigrant who served as an FBI agent and was a graduate of Adelphi College.[3] He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Stetson University in history and his Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Arkansas.[4]

Teaching career

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Haridopolos taught United States History and Political Science at Brevard Community College—now Eastern Florida State College—starting in 1993.[5]

Beginning in 2007, Haridopolos taught classes as an instructor at the Bob Graham Center at the University of Florida.[6]

Political career

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In 2000, Haridopolos won an open seat in the Florida House, after winning a six-way Republican primary by over 30 percentage points and later won the November general election 65-35%.[7][8] He won the 2002 Republican primary following re-apportionment with over 82% of the vote and was re-elected to the Florida House with 79% of the vote in the general election.[9][10]

In January 2003, State Senator Howard Futch died, and a special election was called in order to elect a new senator. Haridopolos won the Republican Party primary with 84% of the vote, and he won 63% of the vote in the general election to win the remainder of the four-year senate term.[11][12]

In 2008, Haridopolos passed on an open Congressional race with the retirement of Congressman Dave Weldon. Weldon and others asked Haridopolos to run, including the eventual nominee, Bill Posey.[13] Haridopolos endorsed Posey. Posey went on to win both the Republican primary and general election.[14] Haridopolos said that he wanted to focus on his likely role as Senate President and continue his push to make the Florida Senate more conservative.

In both 2006 and 2010, Haridopolos was re-elected without opposition to the Florida Senate. Haridopolos actively supported conservative candidates throughout the state in the 2006, 2008, and 2010 election cycles.[15] In the Florida Senate, Haridopolos served as Majority Whip from 2006 to 2008 and, in 2009, was elected President of the Senate.[4] He was sworn in as Senate President on November 16, 2010, for a two-year term. He presided over the largest Republican majority (28-12) since Reconstruction.[16]

Unveiling of Haridopolos's presidential portrait in 2012

Haridopolos sought the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Bill Nelson in 2012.[17][18] On July 18, 2011, Haridopolos released a campaign video stating that he would no longer seek the nomination, effectively ending his campaign.[19]

His candidacy received a number of endorsements, including former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, U.S. Congressman Connie Mack, CFO Jeff Atwater, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.[20][21][22] He dropped out of the campaign in July 2011 in order to focus on his position as President of the Florida Senate.[23]

Haridopolos as Senate President

Subsequent career

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In 2019, Haridopolos co-authored The Modern Republican Party in Florida with Peter Dunbar, which chronicles the rise of the Republican Party in Florida from the 1950s through the 2018 elections.[24] He continued to teach at the University of Florida after he left the Florida Senate.[25]

He owns and operates MJH Consulting. He has been a lobbyist in Florida.[26] He is also active in both the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican Governors Association.[citation needed]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2024

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Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida § District 8

When incumbent Republican Bill Posey announced his retirement in Florida's 8th congressional district in April 2024, Haridopolos quickly announced he was running to succeed him and consolidated Republican support.[2] He was elected with 62% of the vote in November 2024.

Tenure

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Haridopolos in the East Room of the White House with the Florida Gators men's basketball in 2025.

Rep. Haridopolos was sworn into the 119th United States Congress on January 3, 2025.

Committee assignments

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Haridopolos with Congressman Byron Donalds at Kennedy Space Center, 2025

For the 119th Congress:[27]

Caucus memberships

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Personal life

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Haridopolos is married to Stephanie and the couple have three children.[29]

Electoral history

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Republican primary results, 2000[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Haridopolos 6,155 47.8%
Republican Peter DiLavore 2,176 16.9%
Republican John Tobia 1,298 10.1%
Republican Christopher Muro 1,219 9.5%
Republican Janet Simpson Bonder 1,186 9.2%
Republican Mary Jane Nail 833 6.5%
Total votes 12,867 100.00%
Florida House of Representatives District 30 general election, 2000[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Haridopolos 43,062 64.6%
Democratic Rajiv Chandra 23,595 35.4%
Total votes 66,657 100.00%
Republican hold
Republican primary results, 2002[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Haridopolos (incumbent) 11,251 82.4%
Republican Steve Sherbin 2,398 17.6%
Total votes 13,649 100.00%
Florida House of Representatives District 30 general election, 2002[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Haridopolos (incumbent) 40,319 79.1%
Green Tim Doyle 10,651 20.9%
Total votes 50,970 100.00%
Republican hold
Florida State Senate District 26 special Republican primary, 2003[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Haridopolos 13,232 84.1%
Republican Mary Beth Fitzgibbons 2,499 15.9%
Total votes 15,731 100.00%
Florida State Senate District 26 special election, 2003[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Haridopolos 19,643 63.1%
Democratic Donna Hart 11,498 36.9%
Total votes 31,141 100.00%
Republican hold
2024 Florida's 8th congressional district Republican primary results[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Haridopolos 61,710 72.1
Republican John Hearton 18,604 21.7
Republican Joe Babits (withdrawn) 5,250 6.1
Total votes 85,564 100.0
Florida's 8th congressional district, 2024[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Haridopolos 280,352 62.24
Democratic Sandy Kennedy 170,096 37.76
Total votes 450,448 100.00
Republican hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Service, Mcclatchy News. "New Senate president promises to spend less". St. Augustine Record. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Former Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos Declares Candidacy for U.S. Congress". Space Coast Daily. April 27, 2024. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  3. ^ Kokkinidis, Tasos (November 4, 2024). "Greek-Americans Running for Congress". GreekReporter.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2025. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Former Florida Senator Mike Haridopolos (R) | LobbyTools". public.lobbytools.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  5. ^ Haridopolos, Michael J. (1998). 10 big issues facing our generation. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace Custom Publishers. ISBN 978-0-15-567778-4.
  6. ^ "Haridopolos planning for a conservative 'New Senate'". Orlando Sentinel. December 6, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "Florida Department of State - Election Results". results.elections.myflorida.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  8. ^ "Florida Department of State - Election Results". results.elections.myflorida.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  9. ^ "Florida Department of State - Election Results". results.elections.myflorida.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  10. ^ "Florida Department of State - Election Results". results.elections.myflorida.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  11. ^ "Florida Department of State - Election Results". results.elections.myflorida.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  12. ^ "Florida Department of State - Election Results". results.elections.myflorida.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  13. ^ "Race for Congress gets crowded, heated". Orlando Sentinel. February 2008. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "Florida: Posey Pockets Weldon's Blessing For Open Seat". Roll Call. February 4, 2008. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  15. ^ Cotterell, Bill (November 17, 2010). "Local News | FLORIDA TODAY". floridatoday.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  16. ^ Vows to work deliberately but will use supermajority (November 6, 2010). "Mike Haridopolos Lauds More Conservative Senate". Sunshine State News. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  17. ^ Catanese, David (December 1, 2010). "For Haridopolos, Senate bid more 'when' than 'if'". Politico. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  18. ^ "Mike Haridopolos for U.S. Senate 2012". Mike2012.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  19. ^ "Haridopolos drops out of U.S. Senate race – Central Florida Political Pulse – Orlando Sentinel". Blogs.orlandosentinel.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  20. ^ Miller, Joshua (June 27, 2011). "Haridopolos Snags Connie Mack Endorsement in Fla. Senate Race". Roll Call. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  21. ^ Man, Anthony. "Jeff Atwater bypasses Adam Hasner, endorses Mike Haridopolos for U.S. Senate". Sun-Sentinel.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  22. ^ "Adam Putnam endorses Haridopolos". POLITICO. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  23. ^ "Haridopolos Drops Florida Senate Bid". Roll Call. July 18, 2011. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  24. ^ UPF. "The Modern Republican Party in Florida". University Press of Florida: The Modern Republican Party in Florida. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  25. ^ "Mike Haridopolos". plaza.ufl.edu. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  26. ^ "Mike Haridopolos could earn nearly $500K for Q2 lobbying fees - Florida Politics". floridapolitics.com. August 15, 2017. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  27. ^ Berman, Dave (December 30, 2024). "Brevard's Haridopolos to serve on House Science/Space Committee, Finance Services Committee". Florida Today. Archived from the original on December 30, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  28. ^ "Committees and Caucuses | Congressman Mike Haridopolos". haridopolos.house.gov. January 3, 2025. Archived from the original on January 4, 2026. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  29. ^ Clark, Zach (August 18, 2024). "WATCH: Congressional Candidate Mike Haridopolos Discusses His Campaign Ahead of Aug. 20 Primary Election". Space Coast Daily. Archived from the original on January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  30. ^ "September 5, 2000 Primary Election". results.elections.myflorida.com. Florida Department of State. Archived from the original on April 26, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  31. ^ "November 7, 2000 General Election Official Results State Representative District: 30". results.elections.myflorida.com. Florida Department of State. Archived from the original on August 14, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  32. ^ "September 10, 2002 Primary Election". results.elections.myflorida.com. Florida Department of State. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  33. ^ "November 5, 2002 General Election Official Results State Representative District: 30". results.elections.myflorida.com. Florida Department of State. Archived from the original on August 13, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  34. ^ "March 11, 2003 Special Primary Senate 26 & House 30 Republican Primary Official Results State Senator District: 26". results.elections.myflorida.com. Florida Department of State. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  35. ^ "March 25, 2003 Special General Senate 26 & House 30 Official Results State Senator District: 26". results.elections.myflorida.com. Florida Department of State. Archived from the original on April 24, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  36. ^ "August 20, 2024 Primary Election". results.elections.myflorida.com. Florida Department of State. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  37. ^ "2024 General Election November 5, 2024 Official Election Results". Florida Election Watch. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
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