Florida Senate, District 8
Represents District 8 in the Florida Senate; votes on state laws and the state budget. Term: 4 years.
Partly verified. Either the November opponent could not be confirmed from available sources, or only a few positions are documented. Confirm the full candidate list on your county sample ballot; unknown positions are shown as such.
How we verified who is on the ballot
OPEN SEAT: incumbent Tom Wright (R) is term-limited (Ballotpedia). Ballotpedia lists Heather Louise Bendl, Elizabeth Fetterhoff, Jake Johansson and Jason Voelz in the Aug. 18, 2026 Republican primary . The primary WINNER and any Democratic/NPA general-election candidate could NOT be verified from search snippets (results pages at floridaelectionwatch.gov and volusiaelections.gov were blocked). Treat this roster as the primary field, not the November ballot. Counties per Ballotpedia. Research limitation (Sept 2026): Ballotpedia, Wikipedia, dos.fl.gov, floridaelectionwatch.gov, Florida Politics and all news sites were blocked for fetching in this sandbox and the WebSearch budget was capped, so the roster is built only from search-result snippets; write-in/NPA qualifiers could not be checked. Positions are null because no snippet contained an explicit issue statement.
Sources: ballotpedia.org
Debates and forums
- No debate or candidate forum has been scheduled in this race (checked Oct. 17, 2026). Checked Vote411's Florida debates-and-forums calendar, the League of Women Voters of Florida newsroom, the county Leagues, chambers of commerce, Tiger Bay clubs and local NAACP branches; every legislative forum they list was held during the primary.
Candidates
Report an error ↗Candidates marked "Withdrew", "Defeated in the primary" or "Did not qualify" are not running in November, according to the Florida Division of Elections candidate list. A name may still be printed on the ballot if the withdrawal came late; such votes are not counted. They are excluded from match results.
Jake Johansson
Johansson, a Volusia County resident and retired Navy officer who previously ran for Volusia County Council, announced in 2024 for the open SD 8 seat and drew endorsements from Senate Republican leadership, AIF and the Florida Chamber.
Elizabeth Fetterhoff
Fetterhoff is a former state representative from DeLand who served in the Florida House (2018-2022) before losing in 2022; she ran in the 2026 SD 8 Republican primary.
Heather Louise Bendl
Bendl ran in the 2026 SD 8 Republican primary (Ballotpedia). No further biographical information was found in search results.
Jason Voelz
Voelz ran in the 2026 SD 8 Republican primary (Ballotpedia). No further biographical information was found in search results.
Judy M. Ngying
Ngying has lived in Deltona since 1997 and is in her 29th year as a public school teacher, currently teaching science at a public alternative school for students who have been expelled or adjudicated by the courts. She previously taught chemistry at Pine Ridge High School in Volusia County and was part of the opening …
Gabriel Wozniak
Wozniak is a lifelong resident of Daytona Beach who earned a master's degree in hospitality and tourism management from the University of Central Florida. He joined the Libertarian Party of Volusia County in 2016 and is now its chairman. He describes himself as a member of Turning Point USA and says his campaign is bu…
Side-by-side on the major issues
AgreeDiffer a littleDiffer stronglyNot enough data· hover for details, click to jump to the row
Taxes & spendingProperty taxesProperty insuranceHousing affordabilityImmigrationAbortionGunsHealth careEducation & school choiceEnvironment & waterGrowth & developmentMarijuanaElections & votingCrime & policingGender identity lawsEnergy & utilitiesTrump administrationVeterans
Where the candidates in this race split, issue by issue.
Strongly agreesLeans agreeMixed / neutralLeans disagreeStrongly disagreesNo public position found
Each row is a statement. The chips show how each candidate's stated positions or record relate to that statement. Expand a row to read the evidence and sources. "No public position found" means we could not find a statement or record on the topic, not that the candidate has none.
Show:
| Issue | Jake Johansson Republican | Elizabeth Fetterhoff Republican | Heather Louise Bendl Republican | Jason Voelz Republican | Judy M. Ngying Democratic | Gabriel Wozniak Libertarian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes & spendingCutting taxes should be a top priority, even if it means less government spending on services. | Leans agree· stated position His campaign site says he supports 'conservative, lean, and responsive government' and 'Leaner, affordable, and more responsive government.' In the VOTE411 questionnaire he said that as a County Council member he scrutinizes spending to keep property taxes as low as practical while maintaining essential services. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly agrees· stated position Wozniak's platform calls for a 'Red Tape Reduction' commission that repeals two regulations for each new one, ending corporate subsidies, and aggressive tax cuts. His 'Main Street Freedom Act' would raise the tangible personal property tax exemption for businesses from $25,000 to $100,000 and waive state corporate filing for businesses under $250,000 in revenue. |
| Property taxesFlorida should eliminate or sharply reduce homestead property taxes, even if local governments must cut services or find other revenue. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly disagrees· stated position Asked about affordable housing she said she fears renters would be forced out if the property tax amendment passes because landlords would absorb a shifted burden, and that property taxes should be reformed before any move to remove them. | Strongly agrees· stated position He says Floridians never truly own a home while paying property taxes, and that in his first six months he would push to cap reassessment increases, expand homestead relief and advance constitutional protections to eliminate property taxes on primary residences. |
| Property insuranceThe state should intervene more directly in the property-insurance market (rate caps, expanding Citizens, stricter insurer regulation) rather than relying mainly on market-based reforms. | Mixed / neutral· stated position Asked about insurance versus property taxes, he said insurers must handle claims fairly and pass reduced costs to policyholders, while homeowners and contractors must avoid inflated claims. He said he supports competition and mitigation discounts and wants metrics showing whether reforms deliver savings, rather than new rate controls. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly agrees· stated position She says property insurance has 'spiraled out of control' and that the Legislature has not fixed it, calls for transparency laws and for removing requirements such as automatic roof replacement, and accuses insurers of moving profits out of state to hide them. | Strongly disagrees· stated position He says insurance costs stem from litigation and overregulation rather than market failure, and calls for 'Loser Pays' rules, deregulating coverage so insurers can sell a la carte policies, and shrinking state-run Citizens Property Insurance so it does not crowd out private competition. |
| Housing affordabilityGovernment should do more to make housing affordable (subsidies, zoning changes, rent measures). | Leans agree· stated position He said that on the Volusia County Council he supported faster permitting, accessory dwelling units and flexible zoning, and that in the Senate he would streamline permitting, allow more starter homes and ADUs, protect state and local housing funds and support targeted down-payment assistance. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly agrees· stated position She calls for fully funding the SHIP and SAIL housing programs, reforming the Live Local Act so developers have less free rein, and investing in affordable apartments, duplexes and condos for seniors, single parents and people with limited mobility. | Leans disagree· stated position On housing he calls for ending state subsidies and tax breaks for institutional landlords and fully deregulating accessory dwelling units, and says the answer is less rather than more government involvement. |
| ImmigrationImmigration enforcement should be stricter, including large-scale deportation of people in the country illegally. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly disagrees· stated position Asked whether she agrees with current federal and state immigration enforcement, Ngying said she does not; she said violent immigrants should be deported or jailed but that most people without papers are awaiting their turn before a judge. | No public position found |
| AbortionAbortion should be legal in most cases (Florida's six-week ban should be repealed or loosened). | Strongly disagrees· stated position Asked by the League of Women Voters when he would support abortion access, Johansson said he supports Florida's current law banning abortion after about six weeks with its existing exceptions, and said he supports access to contraception to prevent unintended pregnancies. | Strongly disagrees· based on record Voted for HB 5 (2022), the 2022 law limiting most abortions to 15 weeks. | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly agrees· stated position Asked when she would support abortion access, she said it is a personal decision for the woman, her family and her doctor, that restrictions should be tied to fetal viability at about 24 weeks, and that doctors should be protected when performing life-saving procedures. | Strongly disagrees· stated position Asked by the League of Women Voters under what circumstances he would support access to abortion, Wozniak answered with one word: 'Rape.' |
| GunsGun laws should be stricter (keep the red-flag law and the age-21 purchase rule; expand background checks) rather than looser (permitless or open carry, lower purchase age). | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly disagrees· stated position He says he would repeal Florida's red-flag law as a violation of due process, expand permitless carry by eliminating gun-free zones, and bar state enforcement of federal gun measures he considers unconstitutional. |
| Health careGovernment should expand its role in health coverage (expand Medicaid in Florida, extend Affordable Care Act subsidies). | Mixed / neutral· stated position He said Florida must protect access to essential care while keeping costs sustainable, and named community health centers, preventive care, Medicaid managed-care accountability and a larger health workforce. He did not call for expanding Medicaid eligibility, saying targeted state assistance should be evaluated on need, cost and measurable benefits. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly agrees· stated position Ngying told the League of Women Voters that Medicaid expansion 'is a must,' that removing Affordable Care Act subsidies was wrong, and that Florida should fund KidCare, push down drug prices and expand primary care. Her website says she would restore ACA subsidies and expand access. | Strongly disagrees· stated position He says expanding Medicaid or relying on federal subsidies shifts unsustainable debt onto Florida taxpayers, and instead proposes direct primary care, health savings accounts, repealing certificate-of-need laws, lifting scope-of-practice limits and allowing insurance purchases across state lines. |
| Education & school choicePublic money should follow students to private, charter or home schools (universal school vouchers). | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly disagrees· stated position She says the voucher law has harmed public schools and that voucher funding should be separated from public-school funding, with every school receiving taxpayer dollars held to the same accountability standards as public schools. Her issues page says voucher-funded schools can refuse any child and have almost no accountability. | Strongly agrees· stated position His platform calls for 'Universal School Choice,' saying funding should follow the student and that Education Savings Accounts should be fully expanded so families can choose private, charter or home schooling. |
| Environment & waterProtecting water quality, conservation land and climate resilience should take priority even if it slows development or raises costs. | Leans agree· stated position His campaign platform says he would 'Lead the state in environmental stewardship with innovative solutions,' and in the VOTE411 questionnaire he said he would convene local leaders and state agencies on infrastructure and flood-mitigation projects and support growth that protects natural resources. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly agrees· stated position She says Florida has a responsibility to protect beaches, rivers, springs and lakes from pollution and overdevelopment, and calls for protecting rural boundaries, conservation lands and the aquifer. | No public position found |
| Growth & developmentGrowth and development should be slowed or more tightly regulated (higher impact fees, density limits, stronger local control). | Mixed / neutral· stated position He said growth must be matched by roads, drainage, water and public safety and that he would prioritize infrastructure and flood-mitigation projects, while also saying growth policy must respect property rights. He did not endorse higher impact fees or density limits. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly agrees· stated position Her issues page says builders and corporations should pay their fair share for infrastructure and that 'Growth must pay for growth,' and she says local governments should decide what is best for their communities, including on large data centers. | No public position found |
| MarijuanaRecreational marijuana should be legal for adults. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Strongly agrees· stated position Under 'End the War on Drugs' his platform says he supports full legalization of cannabis and expungement of non-violent marijuana convictions. |
| Elections & votingVoting should be made easier (mail voting, drop boxes, restoring voting rights) rather than adding new restrictions. | Leans disagree· stated position He said he supports requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, while also backing clear guidance, fee relief for people facing hardship and help obtaining missing records. | 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. | No public position found | No public position found | Leans agree· stated position Her issues page says voting must be protected from those trying to undermine elections and that Florida can restore civil rights to its citizens. Asked about a documentary proof-of-citizenship requirement, she called it damaging and said citizen groups would need to help affected women obtain documents. | Leans disagree· stated position He says documentary proof of citizenship is essential to securing elections, while also saying Florida should waive state fees for records needed to register, automate record verification between state agencies and deploy mobile vital-records units. |
| Crime & policingCriminal penalties should be tougher and police funding increased, rather than emphasizing reform and rehabilitation. | Leans agree· stated position His platform's first plank says he would 'Ensure Floridians are safe by ensuring public safety is our number 1 priority.' He does not address sentencing or criminal penalties. | 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. | No public position found | No public position found | Mixed / neutral· stated position She says investing in first responders and law enforcement helps them protect communities, and at the same time calls for holding law enforcement to a high standard with more de-escalation training and accountability. | Strongly disagrees· stated position His justice planks call for ending drug enforcement against what he calls victimless crimes, abolishing civil asset forfeiture without a conviction, and reforming qualified immunity so government agents are accountable for rights violations. |
| Gender identity lawsFlorida's laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors and classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity should remain in place. | No public position found | Strongly agrees· based on record Voted for HB 1557 (2022), the 2022 Parental Rights in Education law restricting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. | No public position found | No public position found | Leans disagree· stated position Her issues page says LGBTQ+ communities 'must have every right afforded to everyone,' including where they live, what schools they attend and whom they love. She does not name the specific Florida laws on gender-affirming care or classroom instruction. | No public position found |
| Energy & utilitiesGovernment should promote renewable energy and tighten oversight of utility rate increases, even at the expense of fossil-fuel production. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | Leans agree· stated position She supports renewable energy subsidies to encourage homeowners and businesses to install solar, and opposes large data centers on the grounds that they strain energy, water and infrastructure. | No public position found |
| Trump administrationI approve of the direction of the Trump administration. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
| VeteransExpanding VA services and veterans' benefits should be a top priority. | Leans agree· stated position His platform lists 'Support our veterans and first responders' among five priorities. Johansson is a retired Navy captain and a service-disabled veteran small business owner. | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found | No public position found |
Where they sit on the map
Each candidate is placed by the average of their documented stances. It is a summary of the table above, not an extra judgment.
RepublicanDemocraticLibertarian· photo or initials inside each bubble · hover or tap for details
How the axes are computed
Each axis is the average of a candidate's coded stances (+2 to −2) on a fixed set of statements, so it comes straight from the documented positions and nothing else. A candidate needs at least three documented statements on an axis to be placed.
Economic issues (toward "Smaller government (lower taxes, less spending)"): Taxes & spending (agree), Property taxes (agree), Health care (disagree), Housing affordability (disagree), Property insurance (disagree), Energy & utilities (disagree), Social Security & Medicare (disagree), Teacher and staff pay (disagree).
Social & legal issues (toward "Conservative side of the statements"): Immigration (agree), Abortion (disagree), Guns (disagree), Education & school choice (agree), Elections & voting (disagree), Crime & policing (agree), Gender identity laws (agree), Marijuana (disagree), Environment & water (disagree), Trump administration (agree), Library and classroom materials (agree), School safety approach (agree).
| Candidate | Economic issues | Social & legal issues |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Johansson | 0.00 (4 statements) | 0.75 (4 statements) |
| Elizabeth Fetterhoff | not enough data | 2.00 (4 statements) |
| Heather Louise Bendl | not enough data | not enough data |
| Jason Voelz | not enough data | not enough data |
| Judy M. Ngying | -1.80 (5 statements) | -1.43 (7 statements) |
| Gabriel Wozniak | 1.80 (5 statements) | 0.50 (6 statements) |
Other issues the candidates have raised
Priorities each candidate has brought up on their own, beyond the major-issue list above.
Jake Johansson
- — Calls for leaner, more affordable government, workforce development, better-paying jobs and affordable housing, and describes free enterprise as worth defending.
- State preemption of local government — Johansson, a former Port Orange city manager and current Volusia County Council member, said he supports 'home rule with accountability' and that before preempting local authority the Legislature should establish the facts, hear from residents and local officials, and consider a narrower remedy.
- Workforce and jobs — His platform lists promoting workforce development, better-paying jobs and affordable housing, and he said he would expand career and technical education and apprenticeships.
- Data centers and utility costs — In a News 6 voter-guide questionnaire, Johansson said regulators should find ways for data centers to pay their own way and named microreactors as a good start.
Elizabeth Fetterhoff
No additional issues found in public statements as of the last data review.
Heather Louise Bendl
No additional issues found in public statements as of the last data review.
Jason Voelz
No additional issues found in public statements as of the last data review.
Judy M. Ngying
- Data centers — Ngying says she opposes large-load data centers, arguing they place heavy demands on local energy, water and infrastructure and bring noise pollution and water shortages, and that the decision should belong to cities and counties rather than the state.
- Surveillance cameras and privacy — She says automated license-plate camera systems must be examined carefully and calls for clear limits, transparency and accountability when surveillance technology is used in communities.
- Workers and unions — She says she would fight for fair and livable wages and would oppose bills that weaken unions, describing strong unions as necessary to protect workers.
- State preemption of local government — She says the state has 'usurped home rule excessively,' citing limits on how school boards pay teachers, on local wage-theft and worker heat-protection ordinances, and on local storm recovery decisions under SB 180.
Gabriel Wozniak
- Surveillance and privacy — Wozniak names warrantless mass surveillance his top issue, saying he would file legislation requiring a warrant to access location logs from automated camera networks, capping data retention at 30 days, barring out-of-state data sharing and requiring public hearings before surveillance contracts.
- Medical freedom — His platform calls for a permanent state constitutional ban on mask, vaccine or medical testing mandates as a condition of employment, education or commerce, and for a right to try experimental treatments.
- DEI programs in higher education — He says he would vote to strip all state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities, and supports posting public school curricula and reading lists online for parents.
- Cryptocurrency — He says he opposes a central bank digital currency and would protect Floridians' right to hold and trade Bitcoin and other digital assets without surveillance.