Florida › Polk County › Florida House District 51
Octavio E. Hernandez (Democratic), Hilary Holley (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 51; Hilary Holley 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.
Biography
Octavio E. Hernandez is a high school algebra teacher and union member who was born in Mexico City and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida in 2015, according to his campaign and Yahoo News. He is a Democratic candidate for the open Florida House District 51 seat, having previously run for the district in 2024.
Top Priorities
- Making Polk County a better place for working families, per the campaign site
Biography
Hilary Holley is the Republican incumbent representing Florida House District 51, elected in a March 2026 special election, according to LkldNow. She serves as executive director of the Florida FFA Foundation.
Top Priorities
- Addressing Florida's property insurance and affordability crisis
- Stopping overdevelopment in Polk County
- School choice for parents
Per the campaign site.
Questions about this race
Who is running for Florida House District 51 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Florida House District 51 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Octavio E. Hernandez and Hilary Holley. Candidate information follows official Polk County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Florida House District 51 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 Polk 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.
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