Lauren Melo
Melo, a Naples Republican state representative and real-estate broker, won the Aug. 18, 2026 Republican primary for the open SD 28 seat over fellow Rep. Bob Rommel.
How they got on the ballot: Won Aug. 18, 2026 Republican primary over Bob Rommel (Ballotpedia / Collier guide); percentage not captured.
Campaign finance: state and county candidates file with the Florida Division of Elections or the county Supervisor of Elections. Search contributions ↗
Sources last checked 2026-06-02. 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 agree· based on record
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.
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.
Immigration Strongly agrees· based on record
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.
Abortion Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted for SB 300 (2023), the 2023 law limiting most abortions to six weeks of pregnancy.
Elections & voting Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted for SB 90 (2021), the 2021 elections law that added identification requirements for mail-ballot requests and limited drop-box hours.
Crime & policing Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted for HB 1 (2021), the 2021 Combating Public Disorder law that created new riot-related offenses and penalties and let the state override local cuts to police budgets.
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.
No public position found on 11 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Taxes & spending, Housing affordability, Guns, Health care, Education & school choice, Environment & water, Growth & development, Marijuana, 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
No additional issues found in public statements as of the last data review.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- 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 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 SB 300 (2023), the 2023 law limiting most abortions to six weeks of pregnancy.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
- Voted for HB 1 (2021), the 2021 Combating Public Disorder law that created new riot-related offenses and penalties and let the state override local cuts to police budgets.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted for HB 5 (2022), the 2022 law limiting most abortions to 15 weeks.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted for HB 1557 (2022), the 2022 Parental Rights in Education law restricting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
- Voted for SB 90 (2021), the 2021 elections law that added identification requirements for mail-ballot requests and limited drop-box hours.Sources: Bill page · Roll-call vote
Endorsements (as reported)
- Chief Executive Officers of Management Companies (CEOMC), trade group for Florida community association managers