Candidate Rey Lazaro Sordo, Florida House District 119

Rey Lazaro Sordo is the Democratic candidate for Florida House District 119 in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. He is 27 and grew up in the district, which is in western Miami-Dade County. He describes himself as a student, a small-business owner and a service-industry worker. Sordo is challenging Republican state Rep. Juan Carlos Porras, the only other candidate for the seat.

At a Glance

Office: Florida State Representative
District: House District 119, in western Miami-Dade County; Florida Politics described it in 2022 as including parts of the unincorporated Crossings, Country Walk and West Kendall areas
Party: Democratic (DEM)
Incumbent: No
Opponent on the ballot: Juan Carlos Porras (REP, incumbent)
Campaign website: rey4florida.org

Background

An August 2026 South Dade News Leader candidate profile reports that Sordo grew up in District 119 and went to Miami-Dade public schools. It says he is a student and owns a small business, and that he works nights in the service industry. His family came to the United States looking for opportunity.

His campaign website says he was born and raised in the area and comes from a Cuban family. It says he has worked in retail, restaurants and bars, has managed a restaurant, and started a business while paying his own way through college. The campaign says it does not accept corporate PAC money and that Sordo is willing to work with Republicans, Democrats and independents. Its slogans are “A Future We Can Afford.” and “People Over Politics. ¡Pa’lante!”

Sordo has not held elected office. The research for this profile found no record that he had run for office before.

In Their Own Words

The South Dade News Leader profile quotes Sordo on why he is running:

“I refuse to accept that the people who built their lives here should have to leave just to afford a future.”

Rey Sordo, South Dade News Leader, Aug. 14, 2026

On development in the district:

“Growth itself is not the enemy. Growth without a plan is.”

Rey Sordo, South Dade News Leader, Aug. 14, 2026

On whom he would represent:

“I would represent everyone in District 119, not only Democrats or those who voted for me.”

Rey Sordo, South Dade News Leader, Aug. 14, 2026

On staying in touch with voters:

“Representation cannot mean appearing every two years to ask for votes.”

Rey Sordo, South Dade News Leader, Aug. 14, 2026

His campaign website makes this statement about homeowners associations:

“HOAs should work for residents, not against them.”

Rey Sordo campaign, rey4florida.org

Where He Stands on the Issues

The South Dade News Leader profile and his campaign website describe these positions:

Cost of living and insurance: Sordo names property insurance, housing, groceries and other daily expenses as the main pressures on residents and calls for major property-insurance reform. His website proposes closer oversight of insurance rates, deadlines for processing claims, credits for mitigation work and penalties for denying claims in bad faith.
Housing and renters: The campaign takes aim at rent increases, application fees and landlord practices. It proposes affordable housing near jobs and transit, more protections for renters, and building up rather than out.
Growth and infrastructure: He supports development that serves current residents and plans for new ones, along with spending on roads, schools, drainage and transportation. He also wants better coordination between the state and local governments.
HOA reform: His website calls for open association budgets, fairer processes for fines and liens, and easier access to records.
Transit and traffic: He proposes better bus routes, more park-and-ride lots, rapid transit connections and road-safety improvements. The campaign treats transit as a cost-of-living issue.
Jobs and small business: He proposes grants for small businesses, workforce training, and incentives to develop underused commercial land.
Environment and water: He supports enforcing water-quality rules, flood resilience and protecting conservation land, and he opposes opening protected areas to development.
Education and children: His website lists school funding, teacher recruitment, mental health support, food security, after-school programs and oversight of foster care.
Animal welfare: He would fund spay and neuter programs and shelter space and would strengthen enforcement of animal cruelty laws.
Personal freedom: The campaign opposes government interference in personal and medical decisions and supports equal treatment under the law and religious freedom.
Accountability: He promises to hold regular office hours, town halls and neighborhood visits and to explain his votes publicly.

About the District

House District 119 lies entirely within Miami-Dade County. When the seat was last open in 2022, Florida Politics described it as a Republican-leaning district with a Hispanic majority, covering parts of the unincorporated Crossings, Country Walk and West Kendall neighborhoods. Republicans have won the seat in recent elections. According to Ballotpedia, Porras took 64.4% of the vote in 2022 and 64.6% in 2024.

What This Office Does

The Florida House of Representatives is the larger chamber of the Legislature. Under the state constitution, its members serve two-year terms and are elected in every even-numbered year. The regular session lasts no more than 60 consecutive days unless both chambers vote to extend it. Representatives write and vote on state laws and the state budget, and they can request state funding for projects in their districts.

The Race

The official Miami-Dade general election ballot lists two candidates for State Representative, District 119:

Juan Carlos Porras, REP
Rey Lazaro Sordo, DEM

Porras was first elected in 2022 and was reelected in 2024. Much of his work in the House has dealt with homeowners and condominium associations. He co-sponsored a 2024 HOA law, and his 2026 bill to create a community association court passed the House but died in the Senate. The Miami-Dade Democratic Party has endorsed Sordo. 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. 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. 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.