Karla Kemp
Kemp won the Aug. 18, 2026 Democratic primary for SD 18 with 60% of the vote (WFLA). No further biographical information was found in search results.
How they got on the ballot: Won Aug. 18, 2026 Democratic primary with 60% (WFLA).
Campaign finance: state and county candidates file with the Florida Division of Elections or the county Supervisor of Elections. Search contributions ↗
Sources last checked 2026-10-01. 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 Strongly disagrees· stated position
Calls for a progressive tax system where 'those who benefit most pay their fair share', ending tax breaks for the wealthy and restoring higher historical rates.
"Adopt a progressive tax system where those who benefit most pay their fair share."
Property insurance Strongly agrees· stated position
Would mandate prompt payment of all valid claims and ban stock buybacks and hurricane exemptions that shift risk to homeowners.
"Reform property insurance by mandating that all valid claims are paid promptly."
Housing affordability Strongly agrees· stated position
Would ban corporate ownership of residential housing, create government-backed loans and redirect law-enforcement funds into housing and social services.
Immigration Leans disagree· stated position
Kemp listed restoring people's rights, including minority protections and requiring immigration to be processed under the Constitution, among her three top priorities.
Abortion Strongly agrees· stated position
Lists 'complete women's healthcare (including abortion & IVF)' as guaranteed under her universal health-care plan.
"Complete women's healthcare (including abortion & IVF)"
Health care Strongly agrees· stated position
Wants a universal, service-based health-care system and Medicaid 'for all'.
"Establish a universal, service-based healthcare system that prioritizes care over profit."
Education & school choice Leans disagree· stated position
Kemp named rebuilding the public education system a top priority, with a full curriculum including arts and music, well-paid teachers and proper staffing, and her website calls for treating learning as a public good; she does not call for expanding voucher programs.
Environment & water Strongly agrees· stated position
Would ban herbicide, pesticide and petroleum contamination of waterways and hold corporations accountable for cleanup.
"Ban herbicides, pesticides, and petroleum contamination of waterways."
Growth & development Strongly agrees· stated position
Kemp said data centers poison water, consume enormous amounts of energy and destroy the environment, and must be regulated if not blocked entirely.
"Data centers/AI most certainly MUST be regulated if not blocked entirely."
Crime & policing Strongly disagrees· stated position
Would redirect law-enforcement funds into housing and social services.
Energy & utilities Strongly agrees· stated position
Would return utility monopolies to community-owned cooperatives, accelerate the renewable transition and regulate natural-gas exports.
"Return utility monopolies to community-owned cooperatives to ensure local control."
No public position found on 7 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Property taxes, Guns, Marijuana, Elections & voting, 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
- Describes her platform as 'European Socialist Democrat' — Florida Politics published a Sept. 14 email exchange, verified with the voter who received it, in which Kemp wrote 'I strongly endorse a European Socialist Democrat platform' while saying she does not agree with 'the branch that likes to be involved in the DSA organization that promotes the Communist platform.' She described herself as 'most definitely a Progressive' and 'a hardcore Bernie and AOC fan,' and said she chooses not to classify herself publicly because it 'pigeonholes you.' Her website does not mention the Democratic Socialists of America.
- Campaign finances and compliance questions — Florida Politics reported that as of Sept. 18 Kemp had raised under $5,000 with $215 on hand, against six figures available to DiCeglie, that her website's candidate disclaimer uses her former congressional committee name rather than her legal name, and that her finance reports contain entries that appear to be gas expenditures listed as contributions.
- Minimum wage and a rape-crisis appropriation — Kemp told the Tampa Bay Times she would raise the minimum wage to what it should have been based on cost-of-living adjustments, break up monopolies in power and groceries, and spend a $1 million appropriation creating an overnight rape-crisis response and rape-kit processing service in emergency rooms.