Jarod Fox
Dr. Jarod Fox, an Orlando Health infectious-disease specialist, is the Democratic nominee against Rep. Doug Bankson. His campaign says it prioritizes lowering health-care costs, funding public education and investing in small businesses (The Apopka Chief, April 8, 2026). Endorsements reported include 314 Action Fund, the Florida Education Association, the Florida AFL-CIO and U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost.
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Sources last checked 2026-10-12. 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 Leans disagree· stated position
Says property taxes fund schools, public safety and infrastructure, so broad cuts could harm communities; he prefers to focus on insurance costs.
"Property taxes fund essential local services, including public schools, public safety, and infrastructure, so broad cuts can create consequences for the communities that depend on that revenue."
Property insurance Leans agree· stated position
Calls property insurance a more urgent problem than property taxes and says the Legislature should lower costs and increase transparency and accountability in the market.
"The legislature should focus on lowering insurance costs, increasing transparency and accountability in the market, and delivering meaningful relief to homeowners."
Housing affordability Strongly agrees· stated position
Supports fully funding the Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Fund, giving local governments tools to build workforce housing, help for first-time buyers and protections for renters.
"I support fully funding the Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Fund and giving local communities the tools to build more affordable and workforce housing where it is needed most."
Immigration Strongly disagrees· stated position
Fox said he does not agree with the current approach, objects to pulling local police into federal enforcement, and wants pathways for long-settled immigrants, while backing enforcement aimed at public-safety threats.
"I do not agree with the current approach."
Abortion Strongly agrees· stated position
Supports access to abortion, says decisions should be made by patients and doctors, and says physicians should not face criminal penalties for medically appropriate care.
"I support access to abortion and believe decisions about pregnancy should be made by a patient in consultation with their doctor, not politicians in Tallahassee."
Health care Strongly agrees· stated position
Fox, an infectious-disease physician, says Florida should expand Medicaid to cover the more than one million Floridians he says fall into the coverage gap, and calls for strengthening the health-care workforce and lowering costs for working families.
"Florida must move to expand Medicaid and serve the more than one million Floridians who fall into the coverage gap"
Environment & water Leans agree· stated position
Fox says he supports responsible growth that balances development against a healthy natural environment, protecting Florida's water resources and investing in resilient infrastructure.
"responsible growth that balances the need for a healthy natural environment"
Growth & development Leans agree· stated position
Says Florida has gone too far in preempting local governments and that local leaders should have authority over responsible growth; pledges to work to roll back preemptions.
"Local leaders understand the needs of their communities and should have the authority to address responsible growth, workforce protections, and other local priorities."
Elections & voting Leans agree· stated position
Says that if new documentary proof-of-citizenship rules come, Florida should use existing records, give clear guidance and keep document costs from blocking eligible voters.
"Every eligible Floridian should be able to exercise their right to vote. If federal law creates new documentary requirements for voter registration, Florida should implement them without creating unnecessary barriers for eligible voters."
Energy & utilities Strongly agrees· stated position
Fox said regulators should make data centers pay the full cost of serving them and that he supports investing in renewable clean energy.
"Florida families should not be forced to subsidize the enormous energy demands of data centers and other large industrial users."
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, Education & school choice, Marijuana, Crime & policing, Gender identity laws, 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
- — Says patients are forced to choose between medical care, groceries and rent, and that many end up hospitalized because they cannot afford medications.
- Public schools and local control — Fox says every child deserves a high-quality public education regardless of ZIP code, and calls for supporting teachers and expanding career and technical education. He also says decisions should be returned to local leaders rather than one-size-fits-all mandates from Tallahassee.
- Vaccines and public health — In a Sept. 20, 2026 VoxPopuli story on the District 39 race, Fox, an infectious-disease physician at Orlando Health, said he supports vaccine mandates because about 95% community coverage is needed to stop measles from spreading, and that other countries that dropped mandates could not reach sufficient vaccination rates. He said an individual's decision not to vaccinate affects others, particularly immunocompromised people who cannot be vaccinated. He said he is running in part because no physicians currently serve in the Legislature.
Endorsements (as reported)
- Florida Education Association
- Florida AFL-CIO
- Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida
- Equality Florida Action PAC
- Orlando Sentinel editorial board
- Unite Here Locals 362 and 737