Mark Davis
Mark Davis served in the U.S. Air Force from 2005 to 2013 and works as a business owner; Ballotpedia lists a high-school diploma from Western High School. He qualified as a no-party-affiliation candidate for the open 16th District and says he is running to offer a moderate, fiscally responsible alternative. Local outlets reported he was arrested in Parrish in July 2026.
How they got on the ballot: No primary (NPA candidate; Yahoo/Herald-Tribune report)
Campaign finance (FEC filings through 10/14/2026): raised $66,969, spent $65,270, cash on hand $1,699; $54,017 from individual donors, $9,185 from the candidate. FEC filings ↗
Sources last checked 2026-09-25. 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
At the Sept. 23 forum Davis said he would pay for universal health care by raising taxes on billionaires rather than by cutting government spending.
Immigration Strongly disagrees· stated position
At the Sept. 23 forum Davis said Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be abolished and framed the country's problems as economic rather than about immigrants.
"The problem isn't brown people. The problem is billionaires."
Abortion Leans agree· stated position
Davis lists defending bodily autonomy among the policies he is passionate about, and a candidate profile describes him as supporting reproductive freedom and opposing government-forced childbirth.
"defending bodily autonomy"
Guns Leans agree· stated position
Davis says he supports the Second Amendment together with what he calls common-sense gun laws, arguing children should not be shot in schools.
"I support the 2nd amendment AND common sense gun laws"
Health care Strongly agrees· stated position
At the Sept. 23 forum Davis said he is an unapologetic supporter of universal health care, which he would fund by taxing billionaires.
Elections & voting Leans agree· stated position
Davis lists protecting voting rights among the policy areas he cares most about, alongside equal rights and anti-corruption measures. He does not name specific voting bills.
"I believe in protecting voting rights"
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: Housing affordability, Social Security & Medicare, Education & school choice, Environment & water, Crime & policing, Gender identity laws, Energy & utilities, Tariffs & trade, Ukraine, 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
- Moderate, nonpartisan alternative — Says he is running as an independent to offer a moderate alternative, emphasizing fiscal responsibility and nonpartisan problem-solving.Sources: Mark Davis (Florida) - Ballotpedia
- How he describes his candidacy — Davis, a 42-year-old military veteran and businessman making his first run for office, told the Sept. 23 forum he entered the race out of frustration and at the urging of people in his community.
- July 2026 arrest — Davis was arrested in July 2026 on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a police officer while Manatee County Sheriff's deputies served a court order at his home during a court-ordered welfare check on his children. Davis has said he believes the episode was connected to his political views and told WTSP that he raised more than $5,000 after the arrest became public.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Records show Davis was arrested in Parrish (Manatee County) in July 2026, according to the Tampa Bay Times and WTSP; the nature of the charge was not captured in this research.
Endorsements (as reported)
- Center for Free Thought Equality