Florida → House → District 26
The Florida House directory lists Nan Cobb (R) for the 2024–26 term and gives the county coverage as Part of Lake.
District map · 2022 House plan
¶ Geography and communities
- Boundary Overview: Situated across Central Florida in the northern and central "Golden Triangle" and lake basins of Lake County. Bounded to the south by South Lake County (House District 25 / Clermont, Groveland, and Minneola), to the east by Orange County (House District 40 / Apopka) and Seminole County, to the west by Sumter County (The Villages / House District 52) and Marion County (House District 24), and to the north by northern rural Lake County / Ocala National Forest (House District 27 / Richard Gentry).
- Incorporated Municipalities:
- City of Tavares (County seat of Lake County; "America's Seaplane City," regional judicial and administrative complex on Lake Dora and Lake Eustis).
- City of Leesburg (Historic lakefront municipality; regional healthcare, commercial retail, and municipal aviation hub).
- City of Eustis ("Culture and Heritage Capital" on the eastern shore of Lake Eustis; historic downtown and lakefront promenade).
- City of Mount Dora (Acclaimed historic arts, antiquing, and boutique tourism enclave on Lake Dora).
- City of Fruitland Park (Residential and lake community bordering Leesburg and The Villages).
- Town of Lady Lake (Southern gateway municipality adjoining the original sections of The Villages).
- City of Umatilla (Northern gateway municipality bordering the Ocala National Forest; "Gateway to the Ocala National Forest").
- CDPs, Unincorporated Hamlets & Active-Adult Subdivisions:
- Master-Planned & 55+ Enclaves: The Villages (Lake County tracts adjoining Lady Lake and Fruitland Park), Royal Harbor (Little Lake Harris), Venetian Isle, Highland Lakes.
- Unincorporated Hamlets & Crossroad Communities: Grand Island, Lisbon, Dona Vista, Mount Plymouth, Sorrento, Lake Mack-Forest Hills, Paisley approaches, Silver Lake.
- Transportation & Logistics Corridors:
- Highways & Arterials: US Highway 441 (primary commercial spine running through Mount Dora, Tavares, and Leesburg to Lady Lake), US Highway 27 (linking Leesburg south to Clermont and north to Ocala), State Road 19 (north-south connector cutting through Tavares and Eustis north into the Ocala National Forest), State Road 44 (east-west corridor connecting Deland through Eustis and Leesburg to I-75), State Road 46 (Mount Dora/Sorrento corridor connecting directly to the Wekiva Parkway), and the State Road 429 / State Road 453 tollway network.
- Aviation & Seaplane Base: Tavares Seaplane Base (FA1) on Lake Dora, Leesburg International Airport (KLEE), and Mid-Florida Airpark.
- Rail Logistics: Florida Central Railroad (FCEN / Pinsly Railroad system) providing short-line freight connections for industrial, citrus, and lumber manufacturing across Mount Dora, Tavares, and Eustis.
- Environmental & Conservation Assets: Harris Chain of Lakes (Lake Harris, Lake Eustis, Lake Dora, Lake Griffin, Lake Yale, Lake Carlton, and Little Lake Harris), Dora Canal (historic scenic waterway connecting Lake Dora and Lake Eustis), Ocklawaha River headwaters and basin, Wekiva River basin/preserves (eastern perimeter), Lake Griffin State Park, and Trout Point Nature Preserve.
¶ Population and electorate
- District Apportionment Target: ~179,754 residents (2020 Census Florida House district apportionment standard).
- Voting Age Population (VAP) by Race/Ethnicity (District Specific Estimates):
- Non-Hispanic White: ~74.5%–77.5%
- Hispanic / Latino: ~11.5%–13.5% (concentrated in Leesburg, commercial worker corridors, and eastern agricultural tracts)
- Black / African American: ~8.0%–9.5% (concentrated in historic urban cores of Leesburg, Eustis, and Mount Dora)
- Asian / Multi-racial / Other: ~3.0%–4.5%
- Socioeconomic Indicators:
- Median Household Income: ~$58,000–$68,000, displaying distinct internal variations:
- High-wealth waterfront estates and historic preservation districts in Mount Dora, Eustis, and along the Harris Chain of Lakes contrast with more working-class and light-industrial neighborhoods in Leesburg and eastern rural pockets.
- Significant concentration of fixed-income seniors and active retirees in Lady Lake, Fruitland Park, and 55+ deed-restricted communities.
- Age Distribution: Elevated median age (~49 years), influenced heavily by retirement migration along the US-441 corridor and proximity to The Villages.
- Demographic Reference: Florida Senate District 26 Demographic Profile.
¶ Elections and political context
- Voter Distribution (Active Voters across District Footprint):
- Solid Republican advantage. Across northern and central Lake County, active voter registration sits at roughly 46% Republican, 27% Democratic, and 27% No Party Affiliation (NPA) / minor party registrants.
- Partisan Lean: R+15 to R+18 (Solid Republican; strong voter turnout in Lady Lake, Eustis, Tavares, and suburban Mount Dora precincts reliably counterbalances more competitive or Democratic-leaning municipal precincts in central Leesburg).
- Voter Inquiries & Election Navigation:
- Recent General Election & Primary History:
- 2024 General: Nan Cobb (R) won election to the Florida House, securing 64.9% of the vote (62,067 votes) against Democratic nominee Jackie Arndt (35.1% / 33,505 votes).
- 2024 Republican Primary: Nan Cobb won a competitive four-candidate primary on August 20, 2024, capturing 34.9% (6,298 votes) over Addie Owens (26.6%), Michael Levine (24.7%), and Keith Farner (13.7%) to succeed Keith Truenow.
- 2022 General (Prior Incumbent Keith Truenow): Keith Truenow (R) won general election re-election before successfully running for the Florida Senate in 2024.
- Primary & Factional Dynamics: General elections consistently favor the Republican nominee. Primary elections serve as the decisive battleground, pitting established local small business owners and agricultural dynasts (exemplified by Cobb's background in farm equipment and municipal governance) against real estate developer networks and anti-tax grassroots conservatives.
¶ Economic and civic anchors
- Healthcare Systems & Hospital Networks:
- UF Health Leesburg Hospital: Comprehensive acute care hospital, cardiovascular center, and surgical complex; major employer in Leesburg.
- AdventHealth Waterman: 300-bed full-service hospital campus located on US-441 in Tavares, serving as the central healthcare facility for the Golden Triangle.
- Agribusiness, Farm Equipment & Sod Production:
- Commercial farm machinery distribution: Anchored by family enterprises such as Cobb's Tractor in Eustis (serving North-Central Florida's agriculture, citrus, and construction contractors).
- Commercial sod farming, nursery operations, and ornamental plant production across northern Lake County (Lake County Sod, agritourism venues).
- County Governance, Legal & Judicial Complex:
- Lake County Courthouse, Board of County Commissioners administration, and County Jail facilities situated in downtown Tavares, driving legal, title, and public-sector employment.
- Heritage Tourism, Arts & Aviation Recreation:
- Mount Dora Arts & Tourism District: Nationally recognized annual festivals (Mount Dora Arts Festival, Mount Dora Craft Fair) driving millions in regional visitor spending and hospitality revenue.
- Tavares Waterfront & Seaplane Basin: Major recreational aviation infrastructure, attracting regional flight training and seaplane ecotourism on Lake Dora.
- Higher Education & Workforce Training:
¶ People and organizations to map
- People and organization leads:
- Representative Nan Cobb & Municipal Business Networks: Former Eustis City Commissioner and Lake Eustis Area Chamber of Commerce President; deeply connected to Golden Triangle downtown business alliances, municipal councils, and local civic foundations.
- Senator Keith Truenow Political Network: Former HD-26 Representative and current Florida State Senator; retains considerable legislative influence, agribusiness ties (Lake County Sod), and donor leverage in central Lake County.
- Lake County Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell & Law Enforcement Charities: Strong civic and political partnership; Cobb served as Treasurer of Lake County Sheriff's Charities, solidifying close alignment with regional first responders and constitutional officers.
- AdventHealth Waterman & UF Health Regional Leadership: Key healthcare executives driving regional hospital expansions, certificate-of-need issues, and physician residency pipelines.
- Civic & Political Research Leads:
- Research Lead (Wekiva Parkway Land Planning & Logistics Developers): Landholding trusts and commercial brokers managing industrial and residential conversions along the SR-46 and SR-429 connector corridors warrant tracking for local comprehensive plan amendments and state transportation grants.
- Research Lead (Harris Chain of Lakes Environmental Alliances): The Lake County Water Authority (LCWA), Harris Chain Lake Council, and St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) active in water-level management, nutrient filtration, and muck-removal dredging appropriations.
- Research Lead (Real Estate & Builders Associations): The Home Builders Association of Lake-Sumter and Realtors Association of Lake & Sumter Counties, which actively engage the delegation on impact fees, mandatory infrastructure concurrency, and workforce housing.
- Strategic Cultural & Infrastructure Landmarks:
- Dora Canal: Iconic cypress-lined waterway connecting Lake Dora and Lake Eustis, celebrated as one of Florida's most picturesque natural waterways.
- Tavares Seaplane Base & Wooton Park: Lake Dora waterfront recreation complex and seaplane operating facility anchoring downtown redevelopment.
- Historic Mount Dora Downtown Commercial District: Historic 19th-century commercial core featuring boutique architecture, the Lakeside Inn, and high-volume tourism.
- Leesburg International Airport (KLEE): Expanding general aviation and corporate aviation logistics airport supporting the US-441 corridor.
¶ Representation and legislative work
- Incumbent: Nan Cobb (R - Eustis)
- Chamber Role: Serving as a member of the Florida House in the 2024–2026 legislative term (first elected November 2024).
- Standing Committee Assignments:
- State Affairs Committee
- Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
- Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee
- Justice Budget Subcommittee
- Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting
- Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining
- (Verified via the Florida House Directory Committee Assignments Profile for Rep. Cobb).
- Key Policy Focus Areas & Legislative Priorities:
- Vocational Trade Training & Workforce Development: Leverages her seat on the Careers & Workforce Subcommittee (and personal educational background at Lake Technical College) to expand trade certifications, vocational apprenticeships, and high school dual-enrollment opportunities.
- Municipal Governance & Home Rule Balance: Experience as a former municipal commissioner informs work on the Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, balancing state preemption debates with local city infrastructure priorities.
- Healthcare Facility Oversight & Regional Capacity: Serves on the Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee, addressing emergency room wait times, rural and suburban clinical expansion, and certificate-of-need standards.
- Public Safety & Justice Budgeting: Service on the Justice Budget Subcommittee directs focus toward funding for local sheriff operations, courthouse security enhancements, and correctional officer retention.
Research text: Gemini browser session, 2026-10-04. Officeholder and county coverage: Florida House directory. The graph keeps these leads separate from the reference office record.