Candidate Ana Maria Rodriguez, Florida Senate District 40

State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, a Republican, is asking voters to return her to the Florida Senate for District 40 in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The district takes in all of Monroe County and part of Miami-Dade County. Two challengers appear on the ballot with her: Democrat Jose Antonio Stoute and Ramiro Orta, who has no party affiliation. Rodriguez has held the District 40 seat since 2022 and served in the Senate since 2020.

At a Glance

Office: Florida State Senator
District: Senate District 40, which covers all of Monroe County and part of Miami-Dade County
Party: Republican (REP)
Incumbent: Yes
Opponents on the ballot: Jose Antonio Stoute (DEM), Ramiro Orta (NPA)
Campaign website: electanamaria.com

Background

Her official Florida Senate biography says Rodriguez was born in Miami. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida International University in 1999 and a master’s degree in leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2009. The Senate lists her occupation as senior vice president of Miami Realtors. She and her husband, Dr. Clemente M. Canabal, have four children.

Wikipedia’s entry on Rodriguez says she is the daughter of Cuban immigrants and has lived in South Florida all her life. It also says that before holding state office she lobbied for Baptist Health South Florida and the Miami Association of Realtors. According to the Ballot Brief’s summary of her campaign materials, she worked as Baptist Health’s director of government and community relations and is chair of the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation.

Her first elected office was on the Doral City Council, where she served from 2010 to 2018, including a term as vice mayor in 2017 and 2018, the Senate biography shows. In 2018 she won a seat in the Florida House, taking District 105 with 50.44% of the vote against Democrat Javier Estévez. She served one House term. In 2020 she ran for the Senate in what was then District 39 and beat Democratic state Rep. Javier Fernández, 55.6% to 42.8%, according to Wikipedia’s account of that race. After the 2022 redistricting she moved to District 40. Ballotpedia reports that the 2022 general election for the seat was canceled because she had no opponent.

The Senate site lists her as chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. She also serves on two appropriations subcommittees, one for agriculture, environment and general government and one for health and human services. Her other committee seats are Education Postsecondary, Fiscal Policy, Governmental Oversight and Accountability, and Rules. She also sits on the Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight and the Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining.

In Their Own Words

In August 2024 Rodriguez and state Rep. Kevin Chambliss presented a $250,000 check to Florida City for a police mobile command center. The South Dade News Leader quoted her about that state funding:

“I was proud to sponsor this appropriation for Florida City with Rep. Chambliss”

Ana Maria Rodriguez, quoted in the South Dade News Leader, August 2024

As the 2025 session neared its end, Rodriguez was carrying legislation on building allocations in the Florida Keys. She described its status in a text message to Keys Weekly:

“Everything is very fluid at this point”

Ana Maria Rodriguez, quoted in Keys Weekly, May 2025

Rodriguez also backed making the American flamingo Florida’s state bird. WCTV quoted her on that idea:

“The flamingo is not just an icon, it reminds us Florida is bold, brilliant and unafraid to stand tall.”

Ana Maria Rodriguez, quoted by WCTV, September 2025

Florida Politics quoted her explaining who would be covered by her property-rights bill, SB 322:

“An unauthorized person is someone not authorized to occupy the property who is not a current or former tenant.”

Ana Maria Rodriguez, quoted in Florida Politics

Record and Priorities

Campaign priorities

The slogan on her campaign website is “Focused on Families, Affordability, and Results.” The site lists her priorities as making life more affordable, cutting taxes, lowering homeowners insurance premiums, improving schools and expanding access to health care. The Ballot Brief reports that her campaign also promises record funding for public schools and more workforce housing. Endorsement graphics on the campaign site include U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Realtors, the Florida Nurses Association and United Teachers of Dade.

Selected legislation

Property rights (SB 322, 2025): Rodriguez sponsored this bill. It lets the owner of commercial property ask the county sheriff to quickly remove a person who is occupying the property without permission. Owners must verify ownership, file a complaint and pay fees. A person removed wrongly can sue for damages. The Senate passed it 39-0 and the House 111-0. The governor signed it on June 2, 2025, and it became Chapter 2025-112.
Florida Keys growth and land buying (SB 1326, 2025): This Rodriguez bill covered the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern. It would have extended the period for spending Florida Forever land-acquisition money there and changed building-permit allocations. It died in the Senate Rules Committee. The Senate’s record links it to SB 180, which became Chapter 2025-190.
Areas of Critical State Concern (SB 934, 2026): This bill would again extend the Florida Forever spending period for Keys land and would exempt some entities from payment and performance bond requirements. It passed three Senate committees without a no vote. The Senate then took up the House companion, HB 755, which passed and became Chapter 2026-181.
State birds (SB 150, 2026): This bill would have made the American flamingo the state bird and the Florida scrub-jay the state songbird. The Environment and Natural Resources Committee approved it 6-0, but it died in an appropriations subcommittee.
2027 session filings: On Aug. 7, 2026, Rodriguez filed six relief (claim) bills for the 2027 session. They ask for compensation for individuals and estates, with Miami-Dade County, the Department of Corrections or the Department of Children and Families named as the paying entity, Senate records show.

Notable vote

In 2023 the Senate passed SB 300, the “Heartbeat Protection Act.” It barred physicians from knowingly performing an abortion after six weeks of gestation, down from 15 weeks, with some exceptions. The bill passed 26-13 on April 3, 2023. The Senate roll call shows Rodriguez voting yes. The governor signed it on April 13, 2023, and it became Chapter 2023-21.

Funding for South Dade

The South Dade News Leader has reported on state money Rodriguez and Chambliss secured for Florida City. The 2024 budget included $250,000 for a police mobile command center. In 2025 the city received $200,000 for traffic light cameras and license plate readers. The later state budget added $250,000 for a citywide meal delivery program aimed at food insecurity.

About the District

Senate District 40 covers all of Monroe County, including the Florida Keys, and part of Miami-Dade County. Wikipedia puts its 2023 population at about 538,600 and says roughly 70% of residents are Hispanic. For South Dade voters, much of the senator’s work involves Keys land conservation and growth limits, state money for local police and social services, and statewide issues such as homeowners insurance and housing costs.

What This Office Does

The Florida Senate is the upper chamber of the Legislature. Senators serve four-year terms that are staggered, and the regular session is limited to 60 consecutive days unless both chambers vote to extend it, according to the state constitution. Senators write and vote on state laws, approve the state budget and confirm many of the governor’s appointees. They can also direct state money to projects in their districts.

The Race

The official Miami-Dade general election ballot lists three candidates for State Senator, District 40:

Ana Maria Rodriguez, REP
Jose Antonio Stoute, DEM
Ramiro Orta, NPA

Stoute’s campaign describes him as a physician, infectious disease specialist, retired U.S. Army colonel and professor. The Miami-Dade Democratic Party has endorsed him. As of September 2026 the Ballot Brief had found no campaign website or published platform for Orta. The South Dade News Leader’s roundup of the Aug. 18 primary did not include a primary in this race.

How to Vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, and polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Miami-Dade Elections Department will run early voting at 28 sites from Monday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Requests for a vote-by-mail ballot must arrive by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22. Completed mail ballots must reach the elections department by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Monroe County voters in District 40 should check their own county’s Supervisor of Elections for local schedules. Sample ballots and polling places are available from Miami-Dade Elections.

Community Leadership Alliance is nonpartisan and does not endorse candidates. This profile is based on public records, candidate statements and news coverage, including the South Dade News Leader. Candidates who wish to submit corrections may contact us through our Contact page.