State Representative, District 89
August 18, 2026 · State House District 89; Florida · State house district · primary
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 · 78 out of 100
Smaller districts give each vote more weight, and this district is small for its type. About 177,721 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(221,815 ÷ 177,721) ÷ ln(221,815 ÷ 167,065) = 78.19, comparing state house 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".
This office is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the statehouse
- Serving on committees that shape bills before final votes
- 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
Cathy Higgins
Republican · declared
Cathy Higgins is a Republican candidate for Florida House District 89, an educator, and a small-business owner. A lifelong Palm Beach County resident and Florida Atlantic University business graduate, she served 12 years on the Atlantis City Council, including three years as the city's first woman mayor.
Debra Tendrich
Democratic · Incumbent · declared
Debra Tendrich is the Democratic Florida state representative for District 89 and a candidate for reelection. A nutrition educator and founder of Eat Better Live Better, she has worked in nonprofit and community-health programs and serves on Florida House committees addressing health care and human services.
Jeff Buongiorno
Republican · declared
Jeff Buongiorno is a Republican candidate for Florida House District 89, a former deputy sheriff, and a technology and transportation entrepreneur. He has operated private vocational schools, holds more than 100 information-technology certifications, and was the 2024 Republican candidate for Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections.
Election sources
Source: dos.elections.myflorida.com
Source: dos.fl.gov