Fiona McFarland
Sarasota-area Republican first elected in 2020. A 2008 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, she served eight years on active duty as a surface warfare officer and remains in the Navy Reserve; she holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler and consulted at McKinsey and Company. She lives in Venice with her husband and child.
Campaign finance: state and county candidates file with the Florida Division of Elections or the county Supervisor of Elections. Search contributions ↗
Sources last checked 2026-09-18. 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
Her issues page cites reducing regulations and taxes on businesses and workers, including a $1 billion sales-tax rebate.
"Reduced government regulations & taxes on businesses and workers, including a $1 billion sales tax rebate"
Property taxes Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted yes on HJR 1-F in the June 2026 special session, which placed Amendment 3 on the November ballot to raise the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 and to limit how counties and cities may spend property-tax revenue.
Property insurance Leans disagree· based on record
Voted for 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 Leans agree· stated position
She cites delivering a record $362.7 million for affordable housing programs and homeownership pathways for first responders and teachers.
"Delivered a record-breaking $362.7 million for affordable housing programs"
Immigration Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted yes on SB 2-C (2025), which created the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, required state help with federal detainers, barred driver licenses for unauthorized immigrants, and funded an Unauthorized Alien Transport Program.
Guns Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted yes on HB 543 (2023), which allows carrying a concealed firearm without a state license.
Education & school choice Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted yes on HB 1 (2023), which removed income limits and enrollment caps so state scholarship funds can follow any K-12 student to private or home education.
Crime & policing Leans agree· stated position
She says she championed increased pay and bonuses for law enforcement and school-safety investment.
"Championed increased pay and bonuses for law enforcement"
Gender identity laws Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted for SB 254 (2023), the 2023 law barring gender-affirming medical treatment for minors and restricting it for adults.
Energy & utilities Leans disagree· based on record
Voted for 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: Abortion, Health care, Environment & water, Growth & development, Marijuana, Elections & voting, 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
- Property insurance — She cites passing bipartisan property insurance reform to combat rising costs; no direction on further regulation stated.
- Coastal resilience — She cites the 'Always Ready' coastal resiliency program and $1.4 million for Historic Spanish Point shoreline restoration.
- Maternal health — She cites extending postpartum Medicaid coverage to twelve months.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Voted yes on CS/HJR 1F (homestead property-tax exemption increase / Amendment 3), House passage 75-26, June 2, 2026.
- Voted yes on SB 2-C (Immigration enforcement), House passage 85-30, Feb. 13, 2025.
- Did not vote on SB 300 (six-week abortion limit), House passage 70-40, April 13, 2023.
- Voted yes on CS/HB 543 (permitless concealed carry), House passage 76-32, March 24, 2023.
- Voted yes on CS/CS/CS/CS/HB 1 (universal school-choice scholarships), House passage 83-27, March 17, 2023.
- Voted for 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 for 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
- Voted for CS/SB 102 (2023), the 2023 Live Local Act that put $711 million into state housing programs, required local governments to allow multifamily housing in commercial areas when at least 40 percent of units are affordable, and created property-tax exemptions for affordable developments; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward more government action on housing.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted for 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 for HB 543 (2023), the 2023 law allowing adults to carry a concealed firearm without a permit.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted for 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 for 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 for 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