Michael Owen
Apollo Beach attorney and small business owner with nearly two decades of legal experience, degrees from Saint Leo University and Cooley Law School, and a 40-plus-year Hillsborough County residency. He served on the Hillsborough County Commission and Port Tampa Bay board before winning the House seat in 2024 with 67 percent.
Campaign finance: state and county candidates file with the Florida Division of Elections or the county Supervisor of Elections. Search contributions ↗
Sources last checked 2026-09-30. 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 agrees· stated position
His website touts cutting taxes, reducing government spending by $3.8 billion and delivering $1.3 billion in tax relief, and pledges to keep taxes low and oppose fee increases.
"Keep taxes low and stand up to fee increases"
Property taxes Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted yes on HJR 1-F in the June 2026 special session, which placed Amendment 3 on the November ballot to raise the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 and to limit how counties and cities may spend property-tax revenue.
Immigration Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted yes on SB 2-C (2025), which created the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, required state help with federal detainers, barred driver licenses for unauthorized immigrants, and funded an Unauthorized Alien Transport Program. His website says he passed the toughest immigration enforcement laws in the nation.
Health care Strongly disagrees· stated position
Owen said Florida should preserve Medicaid for those who qualify and focus on access, accountability and efficient use of taxpayer dollars rather than expansion.
"Florida should preserve Medicaid for those who qualify and focus on access, accountability, and efficient use of taxpayer dollars rather than expansion."
Environment & water Leans agree· stated position
Owen listed protecting Florida's natural resources and quality of life as the state grows among his three top priorities, and said data-center rules should include protections for utility customers, water resources and public transparency.
Growth & development Leans agree· stated position
His website calls for a more stringent approval process for development and says managing growth while preserving affordability is Florida's greatest challenge.
"Require more stringent approval process of development"
Crime & policing Leans agree· stated position
His website pledges support for the Sheriff's Office to protect the community.
"Support our Sheriff's Office to protect our community"
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: Property insurance, Housing affordability, Abortion, Guns, Education & school choice, Marijuana, Elections & voting, Gender identity laws, 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 yes on CS/HJR 1F (homestead property-tax exemption increase / Amendment 3), House passage 75-26, June 2, 2026.
- Voted yes on SB 2-C (Immigration enforcement), House passage 85-30, Feb. 13, 2025.
- 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