Chris Messina
Tech entrepreneur. Finished second in the four-way primary ahead of former U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy (26%) and Commissioner Mayra Uribe (15%).
How they got on the ballot: Second in Aug 18 primary with 28% (45,882 votes)
Campaign finance: state and county candidates file with the Florida Division of Elections or the county Supervisor of Elections. Search contributions ↗
Sources last checked 2026-10-16. Report an error ↗
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Taxes & spending Leans agree· stated position
Pledges to cut about $200 million a year in county programs through audits and zero-based budgeting so the county can invest without raising taxes, and possibly while cutting them.
"We’ll utilize a forensic audit team, zero-based budgeting, and fiscal discipline to cut $200M/ year in programs which are unnecessary, inefficient, or both."
Property taxes Strongly agrees· stated position
At the Orange County mayoral runoff forum in Apopka he said he supports the November state property-tax amendment, arguing county government can reduce costs while maintaining public safety and that a fire millage increase could cover any shortfall.
"I'm absolutely voting yes"
Housing affordability Leans agree· stated position
At the same forum he proposed redeveloping aging and underused strip malls and shopping centers into mixed-use projects combining housing, retail and other businesses.
Environment & water Leans agree· stated position
He proposed establishing wildlife corridors to protect animal crossings.
Growth & development Leans agree· stated position
Messina supported a moratorium on building data centers; on SB 180 he said he did not think it made sense for the county to fight the state in court.
"I don't believe it makes sense for us to go into a battle"
No public position found on 2 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Crime & policing, Veterans. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Housing / redevelopment — Messina said he would push to turn aging strip malls into 'vibrant centers for housing, retail and commercial'; both candidates expressed hesitancy about expanding the convention center.
- Transit — At the Apopka runoff forum he proposed using technology to provide direct trips rather than routing riders through hubs.
- Budget and transit (Spectrum News 13 debate) — In the Spectrum News 13 debate, said he would eliminate redundant programs and shift Lynx toward smaller, point-to-point, on-demand buses.
- Data centers — In an Oct. 2026 News 6 interview, Messina said small data centers are needed but hyperscale data centers are not right for Florida, citing water impact; he suggested data centers make their own energy and said he likes the idea of putting them in space. Quote: "It's the hyperscale data centers, the ones that are football fields in size, those I don't feel are right for Florida."
- Jobs and economic development — In a News 6 interview, Messina described Orange County as a potential "space tech capital," proposed redeveloping blighted strip malls into mixed-use places, and pointed to a shortage of skilled-trades workers.