Florida → House → District 54
The Florida House directory lists Randall Scott "Randy" Maggard (R) for the 2024–26 term and gives the county coverage as Part of Pasco.
District map · 2022 House plan
¶ Geography and communities
Enacted in the 2022 legislative redistricting plan, District 54 encompasses the entire eastern flank of Pasco County, stretching from the Hernando County border south to Hillsborough County and from Interstate 75 eastward to the Polk County line.
- Municipalities Included (Full or Partial):
- City of Zephyrhills: High-growth municipal anchor famous for pure water bottling, active skydiving tourism, and master-planned residential annexations.
- City of Dade City: The historic county seat of Pasco County, housing county court facilities, historic downtown commercial blocks, and the incumbent's primary residence.
- Town of St. Leo: Small collegiate municipality encompassing Saint Leo University and Lake Jovita.
- City of San Antonio: Historic agricultural and rural municipality adjacent to I-75.
- Census-Designated Places (CDPs) & Unincorporated Growth Belts:
- Wesley Chapel (Eastern Portions): Massive, fast-expanding suburban residential and commercial hub east of I-75.
- Crystal Springs: Agricultural and natural spring preservation community along the Hillsborough County line.
- Trilby & Lacoochee: Historic rural and former timber/citrus settlements in northeast Pasco along the Withlacoochee River basin.
- Pasadena Hills: Large-scale, long-term master-planned county overlay district governing future suburban growth east of I-75.
- Key Transportation & Transit Corridors:
- Interstate 75 (I-75): Western boundary and primary north-south regional commuter/freight corridor.
- U.S. Highway 301: Crucial commercial artery linking Zephyrhills and Dade City northward toward Sumter/Marion and south to Tampa.
- U.S. Highway 98: Freight highway carrying traffic southeast toward Lakeland and northwest toward Brooksville.
- State Road 56 & State Road 54: High-density east-west suburban arterials fueling rapid commercial and master-planned expansion across Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.
- State Road 52: Major east-west corridor undergoing widening to connect East Pasco directly to the Suncoast Parkway.
¶ Population and electorate
(District-specific metrics based on post-2020 reapportionment parameters; strictly excluding broader countywide aggregates.)
- Target Population: Standard reapportionment single-member baseline of ~179,754 residents post-2020 redistricting.
- Demographic Composition:
- Racial / Ethnic Composition: Predominantly non-Hispanic White population anchored across historic Dade City, San Antonio, rural ranchlands, and 55+ active-adult parks, balanced by a rapidly increasing Hispanic/Latino population (concentrated in suburban master-planned developments in Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills) and an established African American community centered in East Dade City and Lacoochee.
- Age Divergence: Features a dual demographic profile: one of Florida's largest concentrations of manufactured home communities, mobile home parks, and RV winter resorts (Zephyrhills), juxtaposed against affluent, young commuter families moving into master-planned developments in Wesley Chapel.
- Socioeconomic Character:
- Transition from an agrarian and rural heritage into one of the fastest-growing suburban bedroom communities in the Tampa Bay metropolitan region.
- Severe suburban growth pressures: high demand for classroom capacity, multi-lane road expansions (SR 54, SR 56, and Overpass Road), utility capacity allocations, and water resource protection. Wesley Chapel Community Website
¶ Elections and political context
District 54 is a solidly Republican-performing district anchored by generational family networks, high-turnout rural conservative precincts, and pro-business suburban blocs.
- Partisan Index: Safe Republican (R+13 to R+18 baseline performance).
- Historical Election Results (Post-2022 Redistricting Lines):
- 2024 General Election (November 5, 2024):
- Randy Maggard (R - Incumbent): 60.1% (60,948 votes)
- Karl Cieslak (D - Challenger): 39.9% (40,434 votes)
- Margin: +20.2% (20,514 votes) R hold
- 2024 Republican Primary (August 20, 2024):
- Randy Maggard: 68.1%
- Michael Pultorak: 31.9%
- 2022 General Election (November 8, 2022):
- Randy Maggard (R): 61.6% (40,511 votes)
- Brian Staver (D): 36.1% (23,783 votes)
- Ryan Otwell (NPA): 2.3% (1,503 votes)
- Margin: +25.5% R victory
¶ Economic and civic anchors
- Water Bottling & Natural Resource Industry:
- BlueTriton Brands (Zephyrhills Natural Spring Water): Flagship industrial bottling facility and water distribution network tapping regional natural spring basins, serving as a core economic identity and major industrial employer.
- Higher Education & Cultural Anchors:
- Saint Leo University (Town of St. Leo): Historic private Catholic liberal arts university anchoring regional higher education, business administration, and criminal justice degree pipelines.
- Pasco-Hernando State College (East Campus - Dade City): Vital public state college campus providing workforce certificates, nursing pipelines, and associate degrees (alma mater of Rep. Maggard).
- Healthcare Infrastructure:
- AdventHealth Dade City & AdventHealth Zephyrhills: Two major regional community hospitals providing emergency, cardiac care, orthopedic surgery, and specialty outpatient clinics.
- Commercial Retail & Lifestyle Tourism:
- Wiregrass & Cypress Creek Shopping Corridors (Wesley Chapel Fringe): The Shops at Wiregrass and Tampa Premium Outlets serve as regional sales-tax generation engines.
- Skydive City / Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH): World-renowned international skydiving drop zone driving regional aerospace tourism and aviation training.
- Retail & Agribusiness Enterprise:
- Sonny's Discount Appliances: Multi-decade family-owned appliance retail business based in Dade City (where the incumbent serves as Vice President). Florida House of Representatives
- Commercial citrus packing, cattle ranches, sod farms, and blueberry farms throughout northern and eastern Pasco.
¶ People and organizations to map
- Institutional Political Networks & Water Governance:
- Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD / "Swiftmud"): Maggard served on the Governing Board from 2011 to 2019, including as Governing Board Chairman (2016–2018), cementing deep institutional influence over Florida water permitting, aquifer storage, and environmental policy. randymaggard.com
- Pasco County Republican Executive Committee (PCREC): Central party machine where Maggard served as County Chairman (2006–2012). randymaggard.com
- Pasco County Constitutional Officers: Longstanding institutional alliances with Sheriff Chris Nocco, Tax Collector Mike Fasano, and Property Appraiser Mike Wells. randymaggard.com
- Civic Coalitions & Conservation Bodies:
- National Wild Turkey Federation (Sonny Maggard Chapter): Influential outdoor conservation and sporting organization founded in honor of the incumbent's late father.
- Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce & Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce: Core business advocacy federations directing local enterprise initiatives and downtown historic preservation.
- Research Leads (Speculative Network Connections):
- Research Lead: Major master-planned community land developers along the State Road 54/56 corridors (such as developers behind Two Rivers, Wiregrass, and Epperson Lagoon) likely coordinate closely with the legislative delegation on Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) interchange funding and regional water connection permits.
- Research Lead: Spring water bottling companies and large agricultural water permittees may maintain active communication with the incumbent given his legislative leadership roles and past chairmanship of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
¶ Representation and legislative work
- Incumbent Member: Randall Scott "Randy" Maggard Florida House of Representatives
- Biographical Background: Born July 4, 1963, in Dade City; lifelong resident of East Pasco County.
- Academic Background: Associate of Arts from Pasco-Hernando State College (1983). Florida House of Representatives
- Professional Background: Vice President, Sonny's Discount Appliances, Inc. Southwest Florida Water Management District
- Public Service History: State Representative (2019–present); Chairman, Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board (2016–2018); Member, Coastal Rivers Basin Board (2004–2010). randymaggard.com+ 1
- House Leadership & Committee Assignments (2024–2026 Term):
- Deputy Majority Leader & Republican Chief Whip: High-ranking leadership post assisting the House Speaker and Majority Leader with party caucus vote counts, floor whip operations, and caucus discipline.
- Chair, State Administration Budget Subcommittee: Commands direct budgetary authority over executive agency operational spending, public facilities, state procurement, and agency IT operations.
- Commerce Committee: Full standing committee governing business regulation, energy, insurance, banking, and economic development.
- State Affairs Committee: Jurisdiction over state sovereignty, executive authority, constitutional amendments, and administrative procedures. Florida House of Representatives
- Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee: Reviews environmental protection, water quality policies, flood management, and disaster recovery statutes.
- Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee: Oversight of medical licensing, healthcare provider rules, and clinical training programs.
- Signature Policy Priorities: State water supply and aquifer protection, tort and property insurance litigation reform, state budget efficiency, public safety funding, and securing state infrastructure appropriations for Pasco County roadway expansions and stormwater flood mitigation.
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.