David Silvers
Silvers, a Democratic state representative from Palm Beach County, launched a 2026 campaign to succeed term-limited Sen. Lori Berman in SD 26 and led the field in early fundraising.
How they got on the ballot: Listed in Aug. 18, 2026 Democratic primary (Ballotpedia); result NOT verified.
Campaign finance: state and county candidates file with the Florida Division of Elections or the county Supervisor of Elections. Search contributions ↗
Sources last checked 2026-10-02. 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.
Property taxes Strongly disagrees· stated position
Silvers opposes Amendment 3, saying services such as fire and rescue would be harmed and that a city needing another ambulance because of population growth might not be able to afford one, increasing emergency response times.
"I don't think anybody wants to pay more taxes. I don't think a lot of people are looking down the road and asking, 'How is it going to impact my safety?'"
Property insurance Leans agree· based on record
Voted against SB 2-A (Dec. 2022), the December 2022 property-insurance law that ended one-way attorney fees and assignment of benefits and created a state reinsurance program, a market-based approach; a vote for it is coded as leaning against more direct state intervention.
Housing affordability Strongly agrees· stated position
Silvers said he will prioritize workforce housing to increase the supply of homes affordable to Floridians, and lists affordable housing among the issues he worked on in the House.
Immigration Strongly disagrees· stated position
Silvers described the detention of a friend's relative who was in the United States on temporary status, saying the people being detained are not criminals.
"Only the attorney for the individual can speak to the individual. It is really horrific what they are doing... These are not criminals. These are individuals that are paying taxes and are law-abiding citizens."
Abortion Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted against SB 300 (2023), the 2023 law limiting most abortions to six weeks of pregnancy.
Education & school choice Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted against HB 1 (2023), the 2023 law that made every Florida student eligible for a state-funded scholarship usable at private schools or for home education.
Elections & voting Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted against SB 7050 (2023), the 2023 elections law that raised penalties and shortened deadlines for third-party voter-registration groups and changed vote-by-mail and voter-roll procedures.
Crime & policing Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted against HB 1 (2021), the 2021 Combating Public Disorder law that created new riot-related offenses and penalties and let the state override local cuts to police budgets.
Gender identity laws Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted against SB 254 (2023), the 2023 law barring gender-affirming medical treatment for minors and restricting it for adults.
Energy & utilities Leans agree· based on record
Voted against CS/CS/HB 1645 (2024), the 2024 energy law that removed climate change as a priority of state energy policy, repealed several renewable-energy goals and grant programs, banned offshore wind turbines in state waters and eased regulation of natural-gas pipelines; a vote for it is coded as leaning against promoting renewable energy.
No public position found on 8 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Taxes & spending, Guns, Health care, Environment & water, Growth & development, Marijuana, Trump administration, 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
- Data centers — Silvers said industry experts told him Florida is not suited to data centers because of its weather, thunderstorms, hurricanes and heat: 'It doesn't make sense to put them in Florida.'
- Property insurance approach — Silvers said property insurance is a large part of the affordability problem and that the answer is more private insurers to give homeowners choices, plus more investigation of complaints by the Office of Insurance Regulation so companies are held accountable when they do not pay claims.
- Fundraising — Raised more than $121,000 and spent about $206,000 between Aug. 1 and Oct. 2; held about $201,500 across his campaign and political committee as of Oct. 3.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Voted against SB 300 (2023), the 2023 law limiting most abortions to six weeks of pregnancy.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted against HB 1 (2023), the 2023 law that made every Florida student eligible for a state-funded scholarship usable at private schools or for home education.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted against SB 254 (2023), the 2023 law barring gender-affirming medical treatment for minors and restricting it for adults.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted against SB 7050 (2023), the 2023 elections law that raised penalties and shortened deadlines for third-party voter-registration groups and changed vote-by-mail and voter-roll procedures.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted against SB 2-A (Dec. 2022), the December 2022 property-insurance law that ended one-way attorney fees and assignment of benefits and created a state reinsurance program, a market-based approach; a vote for it is coded as leaning against more direct state intervention.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted against HB 1 (2021), the 2021 Combating Public Disorder law that created new riot-related offenses and penalties and let the state override local cuts to police budgets.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted against HB 5 (2022), the 2022 law limiting most abortions to 15 weeks.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted against HB 1557 (2022), the 2022 Parental Rights in Education law restricting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted against SB 90 (2021), the 2021 elections law that added identification requirements for mail-ballot requests and limited drop-box hours.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted against CS/CS/HB 1645 (2024), the 2024 energy law that removed climate change as a priority of state energy policy, repealed several renewable-energy goals and grant programs, banned offshore wind turbines in state waters and eased regulation of natural-gas pipelines; a vote for it is coded as leaning against promoting renewable energy.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Silvers sponsored a 2020 law establishing de-escalation protocols for Mobile Response Teams at schools, aimed at preventing unnecessary or traumatic Baker Act initiations for children, and bills requiring mental health facilities receiving minors under the Baker Act to begin a medical evaluation within 12 hours and allowing school districts to use mobile response units and crisis stabilization as a first line of help.
- Silvers co-sponsored the 2019 expansion of Florida's 911 Good Samaritan Act, which protects people under 21 from arrest and prosecution for drinking and drug possession during a medical emergency.
- In 2024 Silvers worked on legislation establishing the Office of Children's Behavioral Health Ombudsman within the Department of Children and Families and requiring that parents be informed when minors are transported to behavioral health facilities. He also worked on changes to the Adult Protective Services Act requiring securities dealers and investment advisers to report abuse, neglect or exploitation of vulnerable adults, and sponsored legislation letting approved apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs count toward high school graduation requirements.
- Silvers says he secured $40 million in appropriations during his eight years in the Florida House.
Endorsements (as reported)
- Palm Beach Post Editorial Board