Florida Senate District 12: 2026 Candidates & Ballot

Colleen Burton (Republican), Alfred Reynolds (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida Senate District 12; Colleen Burton is the sitting member, per the Florida Senate' 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.

Colleen Burton

Republican · Incumbent

Biography

Colleen Burton is the Republican incumbent representing Florida Senate District 12, according to the Florida Senate. She previously served as a nonprofit executive director for Polk Vision and the Imperial Symphony Orchestra and in the Florida House from 2014 to 2022. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 11, 2026.

Alfred Reynolds

Democratic

Biography

Alfred Reynolds is a Democratic candidate for Florida Senate District 12 in Polk County. He works as a law study professor and previously served as a juvenile probation officer, law enforcement officer, and adjunct professor in Vermont, according to his campaign site. He is a U.S. Army Reserve veteran and the author of a 2021 book on child soldiers. He faces incumbent Republican Sen. Colleen Burton in the general election, per the News Service of Florida.

Top Priorities

Education, including low graduation rates and teacher retention
Affordable housing amid rising rental costs
Mental health services

Per the campaign site.

Per the candidate campaign site, roster verified 2026-09-11.

Campaign site

Questions about this race

Who is running for Florida Senate District 12 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Florida Senate District 12 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Colleen Burton and Alfred Reynolds. Candidate information follows official Polk County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Florida Senate District 12 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.