Florida → House → District 37
The Florida House directory lists Susan Plasencia (R) for the 2024–26 term and gives the county coverage as Parts of Orange, Seminole.
District map · 2022 House plan
¶ Geography and communities
- Boundary Overview: Situated across Central Florida in the high-density suburban and collegiate corridor linking southern Seminole County with northeastern Orange County. District 37 spans the bedroom communities of Winter Springs and Casselberry south through the Union Park corridor and the residential and research approaches to the University of Central Florida (UCF). Bounded to the north by Lake Mary and Sanford (House District 36), to the west by Altamonte Springs, Maitland, and Winter Park (House Districts 38 and 42), to the south by eastern Orlando and State Road 50 (House Districts 35 and 41), and to the east by Oviedo and the Econlockhatchee River basin (House District 38).
- Incorporated Municipalities:
- Seminole County (Partial): City of Winter Springs (Principal northern residential anchor; master-planned neighborhoods, parks, and Town Center), City of Casselberry (Lake-rich suburban municipality along the US-17/92 corridor), City of Oviedo (Western residential segments and commercial approaches along Red Bug Lake Road).
- Orange County (Partial): Northeastern suburban enclaves of the City of Orlando and unincorporated urban fringe tracts bordering University Boulevard and Dean Road.
- CDPs, Urban Enclaves & Suburban Neighborhoods:
- Orange County Sector: Union Park (dense unincorporated commercial and residential community along SR-50), Goldenrod (bifurcated suburban community spanning Orange and Seminole counties), University Park, tracts bordering the western perimeter of the UCF Main Campus.
- Seminole County Sector: Tuscawilla (expansive master-planned country club community in Winter Springs), Howell Branch corridor, Red Bug Lake residential area, Casselberry Golf Club community.
- Transportation & Logistics Corridors:
- Expressways & Arterials: State Road 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay; primary limited-access toll expressway traversing the core of the district, connecting Seminole south to Orange and Orlando International Airport), State Road 436 (Semoran Boulevard; major commercial and commuter arterial linking Casselberry directly toward MCO), State Road 50 (Colonial Drive; primary east-west commercial highway along the southern border), US Highway 17/92 (commercial spine traversing western Casselberry), University Boulevard, Red Bug Lake Road, and Aloma Avenue (State Road 426).
- Commuter Rail Access: Western access to SunRail commuter stations situated in adjacent Longwood and Altamonte Springs.
- Environmental & Conservation Assets: Lake Jesup (southern shoreline and conservation areas), Lake Howell, Red Bug Lake Park, Central Winds Park (Winter Springs), Trotwood Park, the Seminole County Cross Seminole Trail (regional paved multi-use recreation trail), and the Howell Creek drainage basin.
¶ 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: ~52.5%–55.0%
- Hispanic / Latino: ~30.0%–33.0% (heavily concentrated in Union Park, Casselberry, and along the SR-436 corridor; robust Puerto Rican and broader Caribbean/Latin American heritage)
- Black / African American: ~6.0%–7.5%
- Asian / Multi-racial / Other: ~5.5%–7.0%
- Socioeconomic Indicators:
- Median Household Income: ~$66,000–$76,000 across the dual-county footprint:
- Master-planned country club developments in Winter Springs (Tuscawilla) and suburban Oviedo report median household incomes well exceeding $90,000.
- High-density apartment communities and working-class neighborhoods in Union Park, Goldenrod, and Casselberry range between $48,000 and $58,000.
- Higher Education & Student Population: Strong demographic influence from undergraduate/graduate students, adjunct faculty, and university support personnel residing near UCF and along University Boulevard and Aloma Avenue.
- Demographic Reference: Florida Senate District 37 Demographic Profile.
¶ Elections and political context
- Voter Distribution (Active Voters across District Footprint):
- Highly competitive swing district with a slight Democratic registration edge. Active voter registration is approximately 35% Democratic, 33% Republican, and 32% No Party Affiliation (NPA) / minor party registrants.
- Partisan Lean: D+3 to D+6 (Competitive "Purple-Blue" seat; Democratic advantages in the Orange County portion—Union Park and collegiate off-campus apartments—are counterbalanced by high conservative voter turnout in suburban Seminole County—Winter Springs and western Oviedo).
- Voter Inquiries & Election Navigation:
- Voters seeking to check active voter registration, confirm precinct boundaries, or view certified election returns can consult the Florida Division of Elections Portal and local county supervisors of elections:
- Recent General Election History:
- 2024 General: Susan Plasencia (R) secured re-election to the Florida House, defeating Democratic challenger Nate Douglas with approximately 51.5% of the vote in one of the most closely watched, heavily funded state house races in Central Florida.
- 2022 General: Susan Plasencia (R) pulled off a high-profile upset, defeating incumbent Democratic Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith with 51.9% of the vote (34,312 to 31,805 votes) to claim the newly configured seat.
- Primary & Factional Dynamics: General elections in HD-37 are premier battlegrounds demanding aggressive outreach to non-affiliated and moderate Hispanic suburban voters. In the Republican camp, fiscal conservatism and parental-choice education groups align with municipal business leaders; on the Democratic side, progressive collegiate organizers and union-backed organizations maintain high mobilization efforts around the UCF corridor.
¶ Economic and civic anchors
- Higher Education & Research Proximity:
- University of Central Florida (UCF): Located immediately adjacent along the eastern boundary; one of the nation's largest universities by enrollment, serving as a primary regional economic engine and source of student/faculty housing demand throughout southern Seminole and east Orange.
- Central Florida Research Park: Nationally prominent defense, simulation, and software technology park situated adjacent to UCF, employing thousands of district residents in simulation training, aviation software, and government contracting.
- Commercial Retail, Hospitality & Service Corridors:
- Semoran Boulevard (SR-436) Commercial Belt: High-density automotive dealerships, retail plazas, multinational dining, and service industries traversing Casselberry.
- Colonial Drive (SR-50) / Union Park Retail District: Commercial freight and retail artery serving eastern Orange County.
- Healthcare Systems & Senior Living:
- Light Industrial, Wholesale & Trades:
- Casselberry industrial parks along US-17/92, hosting commercial building suppliers, mechanical contractors, electrical wholesalers, and automotive service hubs.
¶ People and organizations to map
- People and organization leads:
- Representative Susan Plasencia & The Plasencia Political Network: Sister of former State Representative Rene "Coach P" Plasencia (who served in the Florida House from 2014 to 2022 representing Orange and Brevard); the family maintains extensive, durable ties across Central Florida's education, athletic, and Hispanic business communities.
- Seminole & Orange Republican Leadership: Close coordination with the Seminole County Republican Executive Committee and the House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC), which heavily targeted and defended this priority battleground seat.
- Municipal Governance Alliances: Active working relationships with Winter Springs and Casselberry city commission leadership on municipal stormwater mitigation and road safety.
- Constitutional Officers & Law Enforcement Alliances: Strong support from Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, the Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA), and regional firefighter organizations.
- Civic & Political Research Leads:
- Research Lead (Lake Jesup Basin & Stormwater Infrastructure Advocates): The City of Winter Springs and Seminole County Natural Resources division, which frequently lobby the Florida Legislature for state water quality grants to address persistent post-hurricane localized flooding along Howell Creek and Lake Jesup.
- Research Lead (Hispanic Business & Chamber Coalitions): The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando and local Puerto Rican civic associations, engaging lawmakers on small-business micro-loans, bilingual educational resources, and commercial corridor improvements along SR-436.
- Research Lead (State Road 417 / Central Florida Expressway Authority - CFX): Commercial developers and transportation planning organizations tracking toll capacity expansions, interchange modifications, and noise barrier construction through Winter Springs and Oviedo.
- Strategic Cultural & Infrastructure Landmarks:
- Central Winds Park: 103-acre municipal park on the southern edge of Lake Jesup in Winter Springs; hosts major civic festivals and youth athletic leagues.
- Red Bug Lake Park: 60-acre Seminole County regional park featuring lighted tennis facilities, soccer fields, and freshwater lake recreation.
- Cross Seminole Trail: 14-mile designated Florida National Scenic Trail connector cutting north-south through the municipal core of Winter Springs and Casselberry.
- State Road 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay): Essential tolled expressway serving as the backbone for inter-county commuter transit between Seminole and Orange.
¶ Representation and legislative work
- Incumbent: Susan Plasencia (R - Winter Springs)
- Chamber Role: Serving in her second term in the Florida House of Representatives for the 2024–2026 legislative term.
- Standing Committee Assignments:
- Key Policy Focus Areas & Legislative Priorities:
- Education Funding & Workforce Dual Enrollment: Serving on both the PreK-12 Budget and Higher Education Budget subcommittees, Plasencia focuses on expanding state workforce training grants, career and technical education (CTE) funding, and capital investments benefiting Central Florida institutions like UCF and Seminole State College.
- Hispanic Outreach & Small Business Development: Prioritizes commercial deregulation, minority-owned small business support, and bilingual consumer protection measures within metropolitan business corridors.
- Municipal Stormwater & Flood Abatement: Advocates for state environmental and disaster-mitigation appropriations to address chronic flooding challenges in Winter Springs and Casselberry, specifically around Howell Creek and the Lake Jesup drainage basin.
- Healthcare Access & Facility Modernization: Works through healthcare-related subcommittees to address mental health provider availability, nursing education recruitment pipelines, and maternal-infant health programs.
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.