One Insurance Agent Wins, Two Others Miss Out in Florida House Races

One Florida insurance agent won the Republican nomination for his seat in the state House of Representatives but two other agents did not make the cut in Tuesday’s primary voting.

Incumbent state Rep. Brian Hodgers, R-Viera, won 58.5% of the vote in House District 32, on Florida’s east coast, defeating Mark Lightner, news sites reported. Hodgers will face Democrat Juan Hinojosa in the November general election.

Hodgers, who owns Complete Choice Insurance agency in Melbourne, took office in June 2025. If re-elected, he will remain one of just two insurance agents in the Florida Legislature.

In District 74, Jennifer Peeples Winkler, head of Peeples Insurance Agency in Sarasota, gained 27% of the vote but fell short of Venice Mayor Nick Pachota’s 35%. Like a number of Florida candidates, Pachota has called for ways to reduce property insurance premiums in the state. He will face Democrat Ryan Neill in the general election for the House seat now held by Rep. James Buchanan, who is running for a state Senate seat.

In District 64, Mike Suarez, owner of Suarez Insurance in Tampa, took 36% of the Democratic primary vote, losing to Luis Salazar, who won 45%, Florida Politics reported. Salazar will face Republican Dan Weldon in the November election for the seat now held by state Rep. Susan Valdes, who did not seek re-election.

Suarez is a former Tampa City Council member who has spent 30 years in the insurance business.