Scott Franklin
Scott Franklin has represented the district since January 2021 (first elected in the old 15th, then the 18th after 2022 redistricting). He served in the U.S. Navy from 1986 to 2000 and the Navy Reserve from 2000 to 2012, worked in business, and was a Lakeland city commissioner. He is the Republican nominee on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot; under the 2026 map the district is centered on Polk County with part of Osceola County.
How they got on the ballot: Republican nominee (Ballotpedia; primary details not found in snippets)
Campaign finance (FEC filings through 10/14/2026): raised $1,026,404, spent $625,069, cash on hand $883,231; $436,591 from individual donors, $480,500 from PACs. FEC filings ↗
Sources last checked 2025-07-04. 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· based on record
Franklin voted for H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) on final passage in July 2025. The law made the 2017 individual tax-rate cuts permanent and added new deductions while reducing projected federal spending on Medicaid and SNAP.
Immigration Strongly agrees· based on record
Franklin voted for the Laken Riley Act (mandatory federal detention of unauthorized immigrants arrested for theft and certain other offenses) in January 2025 and for H.R. 1, which appropriated funds for border-wall construction, Border Patrol hiring and expanded immigration detention and removal operations.
Abortion Strongly disagrees· stated position
Franklin has described himself as 'a defender of the unborn' who would welcome any decision overturning Roe v. Wade; SBA Pro-Life America records him as voting consistently to restrict abortion and bar taxpayer funding of it.
"As a defender of the unborn, I would welcome any decision that overturns Roe v. Wade."
Health care Leans disagree· based on record
Franklin voted for H.R. 1, which added work-reporting requirements and more frequent eligibility checks for Medicaid expansion enrollees and reduced projected federal Medicaid spending. No statement on expanding Medicaid in Florida or extending ACA subsidies was found.
Social Security & Medicare Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), the 2024 law repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, raising benefits for some public-sector retirees.
Elections & voting Leans disagree· based on record
Franklin voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22), which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. No statement on mail voting or drop boxes was found.
Crime & policing Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act (H.R. 2096), the 2025 bill repealing parts of the District of Columbia police-accountability law; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward tougher policing.
Gender identity laws Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28), the 2025 bill barring transgender girls and women from female school sports under Title IX; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward keeping restrictions in place.
Energy & utilities Leans disagree· based on record
Voted for the Protecting American Energy Production Act (H.R. 26), the 2025 bill barring a presidential moratorium on hydraulic fracturing without an act of Congress; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward fossil-fuel production.
No public position found on 8 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Housing affordability, Guns, Education & school choice, Environment & water, 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
- SCHEDULES Act of 2026 (H.R. 8199) — Introduced a 2026 bill referred to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee; the bill's contents were not captured in this research.
- Health and agriculture legislation — Ballotpedia and Congress.gov describe him as a sponsor of health- and agriculture-related bills for the Polk County-centered district.
- Military background — Served in the U.S. Navy (1986-2000) and Navy Reserve (2000-2012) before entering business and local politics in Lakeland.Sources: Scott Franklin - Ballotpedia
- State stock-trading disclosure form — The Florida Phoenix reported that Franklin checked the box on Florida's new federal-candidate form saying he intends to trade stocks if re-elected; the paper said he did not respond to a request for comment.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Voted yes on final passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (July 3, 2025), which extended the 2017 tax cuts, funded border and immigration enforcement, and changed Medicaid and SNAP eligibility rules.
- Voted yes on S. 5, the Laken Riley Act (Jan. 22, 2025), requiring federal detention of unauthorized immigrants charged with theft-related and certain violent offenses.
- Voted yes on H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (Apr. 10, 2025), which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
- GovTrack's vote record, as summarized in search results, shows Franklin voted against the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 (H.R. 3967), which expanded VA benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances; the specific roll call was not verified here.
- Had not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey as of the search date.Sources: Scott Franklin - Ballotpedia
- Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5), the 2025 law requiring federal detention of unauthorized immigrants charged with theft or violent crimes and letting states sue over immigration enforcement.
- Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22), the 2025 bill requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote.
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), the July 2025 budget law that made the 2017 tax cuts permanent and added new deductions while cutting Medicaid and food-assistance spending.
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), the July 2025 budget law that added Medicaid work requirements and eligibility checks projected to reduce coverage.
- Voted for the Protecting American Energy Production Act (H.R. 26), the 2025 bill barring a presidential moratorium on hydraulic fracturing without an act of Congress; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward fossil-fuel production.
- Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28), the 2025 bill barring transgender girls and women from female school sports under Title IX; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward keeping restrictions in place.
- Voted for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 21), the 2025 bill setting criminal penalties for providers who fail to care for an infant born alive after an attempted abortion; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward more abortion restrictions.
- Voted for the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act (H.R. 2096), the 2025 bill repealing parts of the District of Columbia police-accountability law; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward tougher policing.
- Voted for the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), the 2024 law repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, raising benefits for some public-sector retirees.
- Voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 93, a War Powers Resolution directing the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran (Roll Call 307, Sept. 15, 2026; agreed to 220-204).
- Voted Yea on the motion to table H.Res. 1486, a resolution impeaching President Trump (Roll Call 298, Sept. 15, 2026; tabled 232-147 with 47 voting present). A Yea vote set the resolution aside; a Nay vote would have kept it before the House.
- Voted Yea on H.J.Res. 210 and Yea on H.J.Res. 213, Congressional Review Act resolutions disapproving EPA authorizations of California's at-berth ocean-going vessel and commercial harbor craft diesel-emission rules (Roll Calls 306 and 311, Sept. 15-16, 2026; passed 216-211 and 214-208).
- Introduced the Establishing Gold Standard Science Act, which he said would codify key provisions of President Trump's 'Restoring Gold Standard Science' executive order and strengthen transparency and scientific integrity at the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Original co-sponsor of the bipartisan RAISE Act of 2026 (introduced Oct. 5), giving USDA standing authority to issue disaster block grants to farmers.
- Sent a letter to the Agriculture and Commerce secretaries asking for immediate action on a sulfur shortage affecting Florida's phosphate fertilizer industry, including possible use of the Defense Production Act.
- Co-signed the Moody-Buchanan letter asking the Department of War to increase Florida's National Guard allocation after Hurricane Isaias.
- Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), the budget reconciliation law that extended the 2017 tax cuts, added Medicaid work requirements, reduced clean-energy tax credits and funded expanded immigration enforcement.