Jacob Ogles
Orange County GOP Chair Erin Huntley is looking to flip one of the most contested seats in the House.
“Excited to announce my candidacy for Florida House of Representatives District 45,” she told Florida Politics.
Huntley will challenge Rep. Leonard Spencer, a Gotha Democrat, setting up what will likely be one of the hottest legislative races in Florida during the 2026 election cycle. Spencer in November unseated Republican Rep. Carolina Amesty, winning the seat by just over 1,600 votes in one of the closest contests in the state.
Amesty was the only Republican lawmaker to lose re-election last year.
Spencer, meanwhile, is now the only Democratic lawmaker in the House representing a district where voters supported Republican Donald Trump for President over Democrat Kamala Harris, according to MCI Maps. While two other Trump districts elected Democratic Representatives, both of those, Susan Valdés and Hillary Cassel, switched parties after the election.
“For nearly two decades, I have called Central Florida home, raising my three children here alongside my husband, Eric, and working to make our community a better place for all of our neighbors,” Huntley said. “As a proud conservative and a mom, I know the challenges Florida families face, and I am ready to fight for their future in Tallahassee.”
Her campaign said she will run on a platform supporting school choice, literacy programs and public safety.
A campaign website for Huntley says the political leader has been battle-tested. It notes that as Chair of the Orange County Republican Party, Huntley led a historic 9-point Republican shift and broke fundraising records.
She serves as an alternate delegate for Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention and was among 30 Floridians chosen to officially cast electoral college votes for the state. This weekend, she was selected as Chair of the Republican Party of Florida’s Chairman Caucus.
“Her private sector experience with Walt Disney Parks, JetBlue Airways, and DECA Inc. brings real-world leadership to her campaign. Erin serves as Chair of the Republican Party of Florida’s Chairman’s Caucus, representing all 67 county chairs. She’s running for Florida House District 45 to preserve our freedoms, enhance education, ensure public safety, and create opportunities for local families.”
Her campaign described Huntley as a “conservative outsider” running for the seat.
“I’m running for State House to be a voice for the families of District 45,” Huntley said. “I’m not a politician — I spent my career in the private sector and human resources, solving real-world problems and working to make a difference in people’s lives. As a mom of three, I know what is at stake and every decision I make will be rooted in the values that matter the most to the families of Orange and Osceola counties.”
HD 45 contains much of the Walt Disney World property, which became an issue in 2024. Amesty had supported Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political war with Disney, standing by him as he stripped one of the state’s top employers of its self-governing power. Spencer, meanwhile, worked for years as an executive for Disney.
Orange County remains one of Florida’s last Democratic-leaning counties. But under Huntley’s leadership, the party fared well in legislative races even as it lost most countywide contests. That included staving off strong Democratic challengers who unsuccessfully tried to unseat GOP Reps. Susan Plasencia and Paula Stark, while unseating former Rep. Tom Keen.
The Orange County Democratic Party issued a lengthy statement saying it will stand proudly with Spencer and will fight for his re-election.
“Erin Huntley’s values are no different from Carolina Amesty’s—they’re just masqueraded differently,” said Samuel Vilchez Santiago, Orange County Democratic chair. “For the past two years, Huntley has been a vocal advocate for policies that are radically out of step with the values of her district. For decades, she has fought against a woman’s right to choose, supporting a draconian six-week abortion ban that strips away personal freedoms and disregards the overwhelming majority of Floridians who believe in protecting reproductive rights.”
He also said Huntley stood by Amesty even after her criminal indictment for charges including forgery. The State Attorney’s office ultimately dropped all charges against the lawmaker after the election. In contrast, Vilchez Santiago said Spencer has quickly established a record fighting for the district.
“Representative Leonard Spencer has proven himself as a leader who works tirelessly for the people of this district,” Vilchez Santiago said. “Since flipping this seat in November, he has focused on creating jobs and opportunities, addressing the affordability crisis, protecting a woman’s right to choose, and improving our education system to ensure every child has the resources they need to succeed. Leonard Spencer embodies the kind of thoughtful, forward-thinking leadership District 45 deserves.”
