State Senator, District 36
November 3, 2026 · State Senate District 36; Florida · State senate district · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: High · 83 out of 100
Smaller districts give each vote more weight, and this district is small for its type. About 543,174 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(591,991 ÷ 543,174) ÷ ln(591,991 ÷ 534,137) = 83.69, comparing state senate districts in FL (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
High representation + unknown decisiveness → High vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
State Senator is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the state senate
- Confirming certain governor appointments in many states
- Helping district residents deal with state agencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
George Lavin
Democratic · declared
George Lavin is the Democratic nominee for Florida Senate District 36 (Miami-Dade County) in the 2026 general election, challenging incumbent Republican Ileana Garcia. A legal consultant and community advocate, and the son and grandson of immigrants, he ran unsuccessfully for the West Miami City Commission in April 2026 on a platform of government transparency and community services. He has not held elected office.
Ileana Garcia
Republican · Incumbent · declared
Ileana Garcia is a Republican member of the Florida Senate representing District 36 (Miami-Dade County), first elected in 2020. Born in Miami to Cuban exile parents, she built a career in media as a radio broadcaster and television reporter and served as the first Hispanic female Deputy Press Secretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In the Senate she has chaired and vice-chaired several committees, including Children, Families, and Elder Affairs, and Appropriations on Criminal and Civil Justice.
Election sources
Source: dos.elections.myflorida.com