Millionaires and lawmakers: Inside statehouse candidates’ financial disclosures

More than half of the candidates running for Florida statehouse seats this year across Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties are self-reported millionaires. 

With careers in insurance, law, real estate, farming, and even restaurant operations, their financial interests vary — but almost all could be impacted by decisions made in Tallahassee.

As part of the campaign process in Florida, all candidates are required to file a public disclosure of their financial interests. An in-depth look at the forms can provide insight into where a candidate’s loyalties lie and the choices incumbent candidates have already made. 

Financial disclosures were due July 1, in advance of Florida’s primary election on Aug. 18. 

The details in the reports, like net worth, are listed as of Dec. 31, or a later date that the candidate chose. 

Suncoast Searchlight analyzed the disclosures for all Senate and House candidates in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Reporters also reviewed legislative proposals from the past few years to identify potential overlaps between candidates’ financial interests and issues considered by the Florida Legislature.

The review was intended to highlight areas where state policy could affect a candidate’s reported financial interests, not to suggest wrongdoing or an actual conflict of interest. It is not a comprehensive list of all possible financial crossovers.

The review found:

• Republican Jim Boyd, the incumbent candidate for Senate district 22, is the wealthiest statehouse candidate in the three counties, with a reported net worth of $21.7 million. Democrat John Houman, who is running in the same race, has the lowest reported net worth, with $12,250.
• Career fields varied among candidates, but several listed Social Security payments as one of their main sources of income. Real estate is also a common source of income, with four candidates working in the real estate field, and multiple others investing in it.
• While most candidates have careers that could be impacted by state policies, there are incumbents whose actions in office stand out — having already voted on, and even sponsored, bills that could benefit their own incomes. For example, Boyd is the Chairman for Boyd Insurance, which offers property insurance. He represents Senate District 20 and sponsored a property insurance reform bill in 2022. Additionally, House Republicans James Buchanan and Danny Nix Jr. cosponsored House Bill 1389 which passed this year and updated 2023’s Live Local Act. Both men work as real estate executives.
• Several candidates filed disclosures with incomplete information. Disclosure form instructions published by the Florida Commission on Ethics state that candidates must list the addresses of any properties listed under assets, and information about the banks or institutions where any listed accounts are held. These details were left off multiple disclosure forms. Other candidates reported net worths that did not appear to match their reported assets.
• Kerrie Stillman, the executive director of the Florida Commission on Ethics, said there is no automatic audit or review process for financial disclosures because there are nearly 40,000 people in Florida required to submit one each year. Due to these gaps in disclosure filling, this overview should not be considered definitive information about candidates’ financial situations.

Below, Suncoast Searchlight has compiled the details from each candidate’s financial disclosure into a searchable database.

The review included two Senate races and six House races. Here are the details of each race:

• Senate District 20 covers most of Manatee and a portion of Hillsborough counties. It is represented by Republican Jim Boyd, who serves as the Senate’s majority leader and has been in the seat since 2020 after an eight-year run in the House of Representatives. He will face off in November against one of two Democrats running in the primary this month: Gerald Baldi and John Houman.
• Senate District 22 covers all of Sarasota County and southern Manatee County. Republican Joe Gruters has occupied the office since 2018, but he’s not seeking reelection this year, creating an open contest for four candidates. Among them are current state Rep. James Buchanan, R-Sarasota, and former New York City Police lieutenant Vic Rohe, who will face off in the Republican primary this month. The winner of that contest will go up against Democrat Lew Wasserman and independent Martin Hyde in the November general election.
• House District 71 covers western Manatee County and is represented by Republican Will Robinson Jr. He has been in the seat since 2018, but is not running again this year. Three Republicans — Melton Little, Dylan Modarelli and Jordan Varnadore — are vying to replace him, along with Ocean Fitts, a Democrat, and Joseph Hoolihan, who is running as an independent. 
• House District 72 covers eastern Manatee County, and is represented by Republican Bill Conerly. Conerly was elected to the seat in 2024 and is running for reelection this year against Republican John Phillips and Democrat Harvey Shifrin. 
• House District 73 covers northwest Sarasota County and is represented by Republican Fiona McFarland, who was elected in 2020. McFarland is running for reelection and is unopposed in the primary. She will face off against Democrat Lisa Klein in the general election.
• House District 74 covers eastern Sarasota County and is represented by Republican James Buchanan, who is running for Senate District 22. Four Republicans are vying to replace him — Les Nichols, Nick Pachota, Jennifer Peeples Winkler and Kelly Ann Walker. Whoever wins in the primary will face Democrat Ryan Neill in the general election. 
• House District 75 covers southern Sarasota County and western Charlotte County. It is represented by Republican Danny Nix Jr., who was elected in 2024 and is running for reelection against Democrat Cynthia Butler. 
• House District 76 covers all of DeSoto County western Charlotte County, and northern Lee County. It is represented by Republican Vanessa Oliver. She was elected in 2024 and will face Republican Julie McCormack in the primary. The winner will face Democrat Phillip Carter in the general election. 

Emily Anderson is a watchdog/investigative reporter for Suncoast Searchlight. Email her at eanadersen@suncoastsearchlight.org.