Joe Strada
Joseph Horatio Strada Jr. was born in Chicago and graduated from Lyman High School; he has said he never attended college. He began working in the trades at 14, took his first air-conditioning job at 19, earned state contractor licenses in five trades, and in 2003 founded the Sanford-based company now called Strada Services, which the campaign says has more than 4,000 employees in 13 states and over $1.1 billion in annual revenue. He had not previously held elected office. He entered the race in June 2026 with a $5 million personal contribution and won the five-way Aug. 18, 2026 Republican primary with about 33.5% (27,388 votes), 393 votes ahead of former state Sen. Carey Baker, a result confirmed by a three-county machine recount completed Aug. 24. He was endorsed by President Trump for the general election in September 2026.
How they got on the ballot: Won Aug 18, 2026 Republican primary with 27,388 votes (~33.5%) over Carey Baker (26,995, ~33%), Nizam Razack, Tim Wilkins and Ivette Palomo; 393-vote margin confirmed by machine recount in Orange, Lake and Sumter counties completed Aug 24 (Spectrum News 13; Central Florida Public Media; Florida Politics)
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
Strada campaigns on a balanced-budget requirement and says Congress should focus on fiscal responsibility and reducing regulations on businesses; his primary ad criticized opponent Carey Baker for voting for tax increases as a state legislator. He has not laid out a specific federal tax-cut plan in sources found.
"I know what it's like to balance a budget."
Immigration Leans agree· stated position
Strada says immigration enforcement is one of his general-election priorities and pledges to help President Trump 'get criminal illegals out of here.' His explicit statements focus on deporting people in the country illegally who have committed crimes; no statement was found on broader mass deportation.
"help President Trump deliver term limits, ban insider trading and get criminal illegals out of here"
Abortion Strongly disagrees· stated position
In his iVoterGuide survey Strada said human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death, that embryos created through artificial methods should be protected from purposeful destruction, that abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood should not receive taxpayer funds (including Title X), and that the Comstock Act's ban on interstate shipment of abortion-inducing drugs should be enforced.
"human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death"
Guns Strongly disagrees· stated position
Strada received an 'AQ' grade from the NRA Political Victory Fund, a pro-gun rating based on his questionnaire answers (he has no voting record). President Trump's endorsement says he will 'Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.' No specific statement on red-flag laws or the purchase age was found.
"the right to keep and bear arms"
Health care Strongly disagrees· stated position
In his iVoterGuide survey Strada indicated Medicaid and Medicare should remain available but that no other taxpayer-funded health programs are necessary. No statement on ACA subsidies specifically was found.
Social Security & Medicare Leans agree· stated position
Priorities page says 'Keep the promises made to seniors and protect earned benefits'; it does not address how to fund them or whether he would accept new revenue.
"Keep the promises made to seniors and protect earned benefits."
Education & school choice Strongly agrees· stated position
Says families should have 'the freedom to choose the school, public, charter, private, or homeschool, that fits their child best,' and that parents, not bureaucrats, should make education decisions.
"Empower families with the freedom to choose the school, public, charter, private, or homeschool, that fits their child best."
Elections & voting Strongly disagrees· stated position
Supports 'voter ID, clean voter rolls, paper ballot accountability, and election integrity.'
"voter ID, clean voter rolls, paper ballot accountability, and election integrity"
Crime & policing Strongly agrees· stated position
Priorities page: 'Back law enforcement, punish violent offenders, and make communities safe again,' and treat cartel violence, human trafficking and fentanyl 'as national security threats.'
"Back law enforcement, punish violent offenders, and make communities safe again."
Gender identity laws Leans agree· stated position
Priorities page: 'Keep men out of women's sports and protect fairness for girls and women' and 'stop taxpayer-funded indoctrination'; no statement found on Florida's gender-affirming-care or classroom-instruction laws specifically.
"Keep men out of women's sports and protect fairness for girls and women."
Energy & utilities Leans disagree· stated position
Calls for restoring 'energy independence' and lowering costs by not 'punishing American workers and families'; no statement on renewables or utility regulation.
"Lower costs, restore energy independence, and stop punishing American workers and families."
Tariffs & trade Leans agree· stated position
On trade he would 'reward companies that invest in American workers, not foreign outsourcing' and protect against China's threats to jobs, supply chains and farmland; he has not stated a position on specific tariff levels.
"Reward companies that invest in American workers, not foreign outsourcing."
Trump administration Strongly agrees· stated position
Strada describes himself as a Trump ally, said he would 'stand with' President Trump in Congress, and received Trump's 'Complete and Total Endorsement' in September 2026.
"President Trump spends each and every day putting the American people first, and I'll stand with him in Congress to fight for our families and our economy."
Veterans Leans agree· stated position
Pledges to 'ensure veterans receive the care, respect, and benefits they earned through service.'
"Ensure veterans receive the care, respect, and benefits they earned through service."
No public position found on 3 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Housing affordability, Environment & water, Ukraine. 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
- Investigate congressional insider trading — Strada says his first priority in Congress is to investigate and ban stock trading by members of Congress, to make Congress 'less profitable.'
- Term limits for Congress — He pledges to push for term limits so Congress is 'less permanent.'
- Balanced federal budget — He wants to require a balanced budget and says Congress should be accountable for the money it spends.
- Skilled-trades workforce shortage — Strada cites the shortage of skilled workers as a general-election priority and points to the training program his company built that graduates students directly into the workforce.
- Government accountability / reducing regulation — He describes himself as a 'conservative outsider' who will take on 'career politicians' and reduce regulations on businesses.
- Support for seniors, veterans, workers and small businesses — The campaign site says he will 'stand up for Central Florida families, seniors, veterans, workers, and small businesses,' without detailed proposals in sources found.
- Line-item veto and balanced-budget amendment — Would 'give the President a tool to strike wasteful spending from bloated bills' and supports a balanced-budget amendment.
- Manufacturing and China — Wants to 'bring supply chains, factories, and good-paying jobs back to the United States' and counter China's 'threats to jobs, supply chains, farmland, technology, and national security.'
- Infrastructure that keeps pace with growth — Pledges to 'fight for infrastructure that keeps pace with growth, improves mobility, and respects taxpayers.'
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Self-funded his campaign with a $5 million personal contribution at launch (June 2026) and followed with a $1 million television ad buy; outspent the rest of the Republican field.
- Declined an invitation to participate in Spectrum News 13's July 2026 AARP community conversation with District 11 candidates, did not respond to the Vox Populi questionnaire used in the ClickOrlando/News 6 voter's guide and the Vox Populi Wildwood candidate coverage (where other Republicans answered questions on protecting Social Security), and did not participate in the West Orange Times & Observer candidate questionnaire found in sources.
- A class-action complaint (Osceola County case 2026 CA 002324 ON, filed July 22, 2026) by seven Florida homeowners names Strada Services LLC and Joseph Horatio Strada Jr. and alleges the company used subpar materials wiring new homes between Aug. 2020 and May 2022; damages sought exceed $5 million. The case is pending; no response from Strada was found in sources.
- An opposition website paid for by Carey Baker for Congress cites earlier employment lawsuits against Strada Services (including Vargas v. Strada Services, M.D. Fla., filed 9/25/2019) alleging FLSA overtime and wage violations, and says Seminole County property records place Strada's home in Florida's 7th District rather than the 11th.
- A Florida's Voice fact-check found the core claims of Strada's ad attacking Carey Baker (decades in office, residence outside CD 11, votes for tax increases during the Great Recession) 'largely hold up.'
- Defeated retiring Rep. Daniel Webster's preferred successor, Carey Baker, in the primary; the Cook Political Report rates the district 'solid' Republican.
- Received an 'AQ' rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund (questionnaire-based).
- After the primary he issued a statement turning to the general election: 'To our competitors, their supporters and those who may have sat this one out, I'm eager to earn your support and welcome you to the team as we work together toward a victory in November.' Florida's Voice reported he also criticized Democrats on taxes; the specific tax remarks could not be retrieved from this sandbox.
- Villages-News reported on Aug. 19, 2026 that Strada, who owns a Sanford air-conditioning/plumbing company and put $5 million of his own money into the race, will likely be the new congressman for the bulk of The Villages after Carey Baker conceded; no Villages-specific policy priorities from Strada were found in coverage.
- The Osceola County class action (2026 CA 002324 ON, Judge Christine E. Arendas) alleges Strada Services installed steel-core copper-clad grounding conductors instead of the copper conductors required by the National Electrical Code and Florida Building Code in new homes wired Aug. 2020-May 2022; plaintiffs' counsel maintains a case website. No public response from Strada or his campaign was found as of Sept 17, 2026.
- Did not respond to ClickOrlando's 2026 primary voter-guide questionnaire.
Endorsements (as reported)
- President Donald Trump
- House Majority Leader Steve Scalise
- Rep. Jim Jordan, House Judiciary Committee chair
- Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier
- Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey
- State Attorney Bill Gladson (5th Judicial Circuit)
- Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma
- Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd
- Group of Central Florida elected officials (June 2026)
- Sheriffs Peyton Grinnell (Lake), John Mina (Orange), Patrick Breeden (Sumter), Grady Judd (Polk) and Dennis Lemma (Seminole)
- State Sens. Keith Truenow and Jason Brodeur; state Reps. Samantha Scott, Taylor Yarkosky, Nan Cobb, Richard Gentry, Webster Barnaby and Doug Bankson
- Sumter County Commissioner Don Wiley; Professional Firefighters of Lake County IAFF Local 3990; Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2117