Richard Gentry
Richard Gentry, a Volusia County native who lives in Astor, is an attorney with law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Miami. His campaign says he most recently advocated for consumers before the Public Service Commission and earlier worked with builders and communities on the Growth Management Act and the Sadowski affordable-housing act. He was elected to the House in 2024.
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. 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 agree· stated position
His platform pledges to bring down home insurance premiums and to hold insurance companies accountable for paying legitimate claims; it does not name specific measures such as rate caps.
"Holding big insurance companies accountable for legitimate claims"
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 Leans disagree· stated position
His platform lists "fostering a culture of life" among his priorities. In the House he voted for bills in 2025 (HB 1517) and 2026 (HB 289) to allow wrongful-death lawsuits over an unborn child.
"Fostering a culture of LIFE"
Guns Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted yes on HB 759 (March 26, 2025) and voted yes on HB 133 (Jan. 15, 2026); both bills would have lowered the minimum age to buy a rifle from 21 to 18; each passed the House and died in the Senate.
Growth & development Strongly agrees· stated position
His campaign platform lists giving local governments more power to control growth among his priorities.
"Granting local government more power to control runaway growth"
Elections & voting Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted yes on CS/CS/HB 991 when it passed the House on Feb. 25, 2026 and yes on final House passage March 12, 2026. CS/CS/HB 991 (2026), now law (Ch. 2026-26), requires the state to verify voters' U.S. citizenship using driver-license and other government records and removes student and retirement-home IDs from the IDs accepted at the polls. His platform also lists putting election security and integrity at the forefront of policy.
Gender identity laws Leans agree· stated position
His platform pledges to stop what it calls "woke indoctrination" of children in public schools.
"Stopping the WOKE indoctrination of our children in public schools"
No public position found on 10 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Taxes & spending, Housing affordability, Health care, Education & school choice, Environment & water, Marijuana, Crime & policing, 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 yes on CS/HB 1517 (2025), which would have allowed parents to sue for the wrongful death of an unborn child (excluding the mother and providers of lawful care); passed the House 79-32 on April 9, 2025 and died in the Senate.
- Voted yes on CS/HB 289 (2026), which would have allowed parents to sue for the wrongful death of an unborn child (excluding the mother and providers of lawful care); passed the House 76-34 on Jan. 15, 2026 and died in the Senate.
- Voted yes on final House passage of CS/HB 1205 (2025), the law (Ch. 2025-21) that added new rules, registration requirements and penalties for citizen initiative petition drives; passed 81-30 on May 1, 2025.