The Ballot Brief
Manatee County, Florida

Florida House District 70

2 candidates are tracked for Florida House District 70 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Michael Owen and Luther Keith Wilkins. Candidate information follows official Manatee County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

Florida › Manatee County › Florida House District 70

Michael Owen (Republican), Luther Keith Wilkins (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 70; Michael Owen is the sitting member, per the Florida House of Representatives' official roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the August 18 primary or advanced unopposed; minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates qualify directly for the November ballot. The field is the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

Michael Owen

Michael Owen

Republican · Incumbent

Biography
Michael Owen is a small business owner who has lived in Hillsborough County for more than 40 years and attended Bloomingdale High School, according to his campaign site. He previously served as the Hillsborough County Commissioner for District 4, per Florida Politics.
Top Priorities
  • Keep taxes low and oppose fee increases
  • Invest in roads and infrastructure to address traffic congestion in the county
  • Require a more stringent approval process for development to manage growth
Per the campaign site.
Per the candidate campaign site, roster verified 2026-09-12.
Campaign site

Luther Keith Wilkins

Democratic

Biography
Luther Keith Wilkins served 12 years in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard, including work safeguarding nuclear assets, per his campaign site. He has a background in business, real estate, marketing and insurance, and is challenging incumbent Rep. Michael Owen for a second time, per WMNF.
Top Priorities
  • Increasing teacher pay and modernizing school buildings
  • Expanding workforce housing supply with responsibly planned growth
  • Improving veterans' access to VA healthcare, mental health services and jobs
Per the campaign site.
Per the candidate campaign site, roster verified 2026-09-12.
Campaign site

Questions about this race

Who is running for Florida House District 70 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Florida House District 70 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Michael Owen and Luther Keith Wilkins. Candidate information follows official Manatee County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Florida House District 70 election in Florida?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Florida are on the Florida election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Manatee County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Sources
Verify this race
Candidate roster from official Manatee County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified 2026-09-12. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Manatee County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.