Florida → Senate → District 36
The Florida Senate directory lists Ileana Garcia (R) for the 2024–26 term and gives the county coverage as Consists of part of Miami-Dade county.
District map · 2022 Senate plan
¶ Geography and communities
- County boundary: The district lies within Miami-Dade County. Florida Senate directory
- Coastal ecology lead: Gemini connects district coastline and Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve with state resiliency and mangrove restoration funding. Florida Senate District 36 legislative page
- Municipal overlap lead: Miami, Coral Gables, and coastal islands are suggested as possible overlaps; block-level boundaries under S027S8058 remain to be mapped.
- Infrastructure lead: Public airports and maritime boundaries are noted as relevant to environmental regulation. Florida Senate District 36 legislative page
¶ Population and electorate
¶ Elections and political context
- 2022 general election: Ileana Garcia (R) defeated Raquel Pacheco (D), 59.0% (75,773 votes) to 41.0% (52,600). Ballotpedia district profile
- 2022 campaign finance: Gemini cites $801,293 in contributions and $341,344 in expenditures for Garcia. Ballotpedia profile
- 2026 primaries: Gemini reports both party primaries were uncontested and canceled, advancing the sole candidates. Ballotpedia district profile
- 2026 general election: Garcia (R) is listed against George Lavin (D) for November 3, 2026. Ballotpedia district profile
¶ Economic and civic anchors
- Coastal property and resilience: Gemini connects shoreline erosion and coastal flooding to living seawalls, wave attenuation, and hybrid green-gray infrastructure. Garcia legislative page
- Higher education and housing: Colleges are identified as possible partners in the Foster Youth to Independence initiative and year-round housing for young adults. Garcia legislative page
- Media lead: Garcia's reported broadcasting background suggests Hispanic-language media networks as possible civic communication anchors. Florida Senate member profile
- Healthcare lead: Hospitals and school clinics with specialized seizure-response programs may be relevant; specific facilities inside district boundaries remain to be mapped. Garcia legislative page
¶ People and organizations to map
- Ileana Garcia: Republican senator for SD 36; Gemini describes a prior radio and television broadcasting career and service as a DHS deputy press secretary. Florida Senate member profile
- George Lavin: 2026 Democratic challenger; the Miami-Dade Democrats page describes its endorsement and opposition to state interventions. Miami-Dade Democrats
- Raquel Pacheco: 2022 Democratic nominee. Ballotpedia district profile
- Gabriella Russitano: Gemini identifies a possible legislative staff connection; treat as a lead to explore in the linked record. LegiStorm profile
Correlation questions:
- How do Miami-Dade environmental organizations connect to implementation and funding of SB 302 along Biscayne Bay?
- Which colleges inside SD 36 participate in housing programs for former foster youth?
- How did voter registration and mobilization groups respond to the reported shift from R+0.1 in 2020 to R+16.1 in 2024?
¶ Representation and legislative work
- 2025–2026 committees: Gemini lists Garcia as chair of Appropriations on Criminal and Civil Justice and vice chair of Children, Families, and Elder Affairs. Ballotpedia profile
- Prior committee role: Gemini lists Garcia as chair of Children, Families, and Elder Affairs in 2023–2024. Ballotpedia profile
- Environmental legislation: Gemini attributes SB 302 and CS/CS/SB 56 to Garcia, concerning coastal resilience and unauthorized geoengineering or weather modification. Garcia legislative page
- Youth and education: Gemini connects CS/CS/SB 584 to college housing for students aging out of foster care or facing homelessness, and SB 186 to seizure-response training for school employees. Garcia legislative page
- Controversy lead: The Miami-Dade Democrats page describes scrutiny of a withdrawn appropriation request for former President Trump's legal expenses. Miami-Dade Democrats
Research text: Gemini browser session, 2026-10-04. Officeholder and county coverage: Florida Senate directory. The graph keeps these leads separate from the reference office record.