South Florida entrepreneur Richard Lamondin switches from congressional campaign to run for state Senate against incumbent
Miami, Florida – In a surprising shift, Miami entrepreneur Richard Lamondin announced Tuesday that he is now running for Florida State Senate District 38, setting up a high-profile challenge against Republican incumbent Alexis Calatayud. Lamondin, a Democrat, had previously been campaigning for the U.S. House in Florida’s 27th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Republican Maria Elvira Salazar.
The move reflects Lamondin’s growing engagement with local voters and his desire to tackle issues that he says have gone unaddressed in Tallahassee. Lamondin is the co-founder of Ecofi, a sustainability-focused business, and he emphasized that his campaign is rooted in real-life experience. “Florida has everything it needs to give people here a fair shot,” Lamondin said. “What it’s missing is leadership with real skin in the game. I pay preschool bills that rival rent. I support my aging parents. I own a home where insurance premiums have nearly tripled. And every two weeks, I make payroll for my employees whose livelihoods depend on my business succeeding. I’m living this — just like so many people in our community. And I’m done waiting for Tallahassee to do something about it.”
Lamondin’s campaign will focus on pressing local issues, including property insurance costs, health care access, and public school funding. He criticized Calatayud’s record in office, highlighting decisions that he says have prioritized special interests over the needs of families. “Alexis Calatayud has had her chance to fight for this district,” Lamondin said. “While people here work harder than ever just to get by, she voted to spend $5 million of taxpayer money renaming an airport for a president who is directly raising our costs.”
He further attacked Calatayud’s approach to insurance and development policies. “She voted to hand billion-dollar bailouts to insurance corporations while families watched their premiums skyrocket,” Lamondin added. “She voted to let developers override local decisions — time and again siding with special interests over the neighborhoods she represents.” Lamondin also criticized her silence during a controversial land deal involving Miami Dade College. “When Tallahassee forced Miami Dade College to hand over its most valuable piece of land to the Trump Foundation for ten dollars, she said nothing,” he said. “That’s not representation. That’s abandonment.”
Lamondin lives in Miami with his wife and young son and has long been active in the community. He serves on several nonprofit boards focused on youth and community development, reinforcing his message of connecting local leadership to real-world experience. He cited conversations with voters across the district over the past year as a key factor in deciding to shift his campaign focus to the state Senate.
The candidate enters the race with the backing of prominent Democratic leaders, including Florida Senate Democratic Leader-Designate Tracie Davis, State Sen. Shevrin Jones, and Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. Various political groups targeting the seat as part of a broader strategy to gain ground in the Legislature have also pledged support, signaling a potentially competitive race.
With property insurance rates climbing, health care costs rising, and debates over public education funding intensifying, Lamondin’s candidacy highlights the growing tension in South Florida politics. His campaign positions him as a candidate focused on local challenges, grounded in personal experience, and ready to challenge incumbents whom he argues have overlooked the needs of their constituents.
As Florida’s political landscape evolves ahead of the 2026 elections, Lamondin’s entry into the Senate race adds a new layer of competition in District 38, raising questions about whether voters will respond to his message of accountability, community experience, and hands-on leadership.
