Debra Tendrich
Debra Tendrich of Lake Worth is the founder and executive director of a nutrition-focused nonprofit and was elected to the Florida House in November 2024. In her first term she was the prime author of a domestic-violence protections law that passed both chambers unanimously, and she serves on the House Select Committee on Property Taxes.
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. 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· based on record
Voted no on HJR 1-F (June 2, 2026 special session), which put a $250,000 non-school homestead exemption on the November 2026 ballot, and no on HJR 203 (Feb. 19, 2026), which would have phased out non-school homestead property taxes.
Housing affordability Strongly agrees· stated position
Supports fully funding the state and local affordable-housing trust funds, expanding rental assistance and down-payment help, and faster permitting and redevelopment to add supply.
"I support fully funding Florida’s state and local affordable housing trust funds, strengthening SHIP and SAIL to build and preserve affordable housing, expanding rental assistance, and increasing down-payment and closing-cost assistance for first-time homebuyers."
Immigration Leans disagree· based on record
Voted no on SB 2-C (Feb. 13, 2025), which created a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, funded state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and added criminal penalties tied to immigration status.
Abortion Leans agree· stated position
Supports abortion access particularly in cases of rape or incest, severe or fatal fetal abnormality, or a threat to the woman's physical or mental health, and says these decisions belong to a woman and her doctor.
"These are deeply personal and often difficult decisions that should be made by a woman and her doctor, informed by her faith and family if she chooses."
Guns Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted no on HB 759 (March 26, 2025) and voted no on HB 133 (Jan. 15, 2026); both bills would have lowered the minimum age to buy a rifle from 21 to 18; each passed the House and died in the Senate.
Health care Leans agree· stated position
Supports pursuing every available federal waiver and funding to keep Floridians covered and protecting Medicaid access for vulnerable groups; she does not explicitly call for Medicaid expansion.
"As federal subsidies decline, I support pursuing every available federal waiver and funding opportunity to help Florida families maintain coverage while maximizing federal dollars and controlling state costs."
Growth & development Leans agree· stated position
Says Florida has often gone too far in preempting local governments and that local control over growth, development and flooding should be the default.
"Home rule should be protected, and local control should be the default unless there is a clear and compelling statewide reason to intervene."
Elections & voting Leans agree· based on record
Voted no on CS/CS/HB 991 when it passed the House on Feb. 25, 2026 and no on final House passage March 12, 2026. CS/CS/HB 991 (2026), now law (Ch. 2026-26), requires the state to verify voters' U.S. citizenship using driver-license and other government records and removes student and retirement-home IDs from the IDs accepted at the polls. On VOTE411 she said eligibility should be verified without making eligible voters go through a costly or complicated process.
"Election integrity and voter access should work together."
No public position found on 10 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Taxes & spending, Property insurance, Education & school choice, Environment & water, Marijuana, Crime & policing, Gender identity laws, Energy & utilities, 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
- Domestic violence law — She authored a 2026 law strengthening protections and legal tools for survivors of domestic and dating violence.
- Named 2026 Legislator of the Year by the Florida Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce — Tendrich was named 2026 Legislator of the Year by the Florida Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce, which cited her support for Hispanic culture and businesses. Her campaign also announced endorsements from Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores, School Board member Virginia Savietto, Greenacres Council member Susy Diaz, Boca Raton Council member Yvette Drucker and Belle Glade Council member Joaquin Almazan.
- Domestic violence honors — In October she received a Palm Beach County domestic-violence response team plaque and proclamations from Lake Worth Beach and Riviera Beach; her 2026 law raised penalties for repeat domestic-violence offenders.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Voted no on HJR 1-F (2026 special session), HJR 203 (2026) and SB 2-C (2025).
- Voted against CS/HJR 1-F (2026), the June 2026 joint resolution that placed Amendment 3 on the ballot to raise the non-school homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028 and let counties and cities exempt homesteads entirely; because the vote sent the question to voters rather than cutting taxes itself, a vote for it is coded as leaning toward sharply reducing homestead property taxes rather than as full agreement.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted against SB 2-C (2025), the February 2025 special-session immigration law that created a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, made entering Florida as an unauthorized immigrant a state crime and required local cooperation with federal detention.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted no on CS/HB 1517 (2025), which would have allowed parents to sue for the wrongful death of an unborn child (excluding the mother and providers of lawful care); passed the House 79-32 on April 9, 2025 and died in the Senate.
- Voted no on CS/HB 289 (2026), which would have allowed parents to sue for the wrongful death of an unborn child (excluding the mother and providers of lawful care); passed the House 76-34 on Jan. 15, 2026 and died in the Senate.
- Voted no on final House passage of CS/HB 1205 (2025), the law (Ch. 2025-21) that added new rules, registration requirements and penalties for citizen initiative petition drives; passed 81-30 on May 1, 2025.
Endorsements (as reported)
- Hispanic Political Action Committee (HISPAC)
- The Hispanic Vote
- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Florida East Coast Chapter
- Florida Planned Parenthood PAC
- Palm Beach Post Editorial Board
- All five members of the Lantana Town Council (Mayor Karen Lythgoe, Vice Mayor Chris Castle, Council Members Kem Mason, Jesse Rivero and Mark Zeitler)