Carlos Guillermo Smith
2024 - Present
2028
0
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Carlos Guillermo Smith (Democratic Party) is a member of the Florida State Senate, representing District 17. He assumed office on November 5, 2024. His current term ends on November 7, 2028.
Smith (Democratic Party) won election to the Florida State Senate to represent District 17 outright in the general election on November 5, 2024, after the Democratic primary and general election were canceled.
Biography
Carlos Guillermo Smith was born and raised in Florida, attended public schools, and graduated in 1999 from Spanish River High School in Boca Raton, FL. His parents immigrated to Florida in 1978. He graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003 and started his career by working and managing Men’s Wearhouse stores in Georgia and Florida.
In 2011, he was hired as the legislative aide for Representative Scott Randolph. Soon after, he joined the local Democratic Party and served as communications director and senior advisor to Joe Saunders State House 49 race in 2012. Subsequently, he was elected chairman and leader of the Orange County Democratic Party. In addition, he began serving as the central Florida outreach coordinator for Equality Florida.[1]
Committee assignments
2021-2022
Smith was assigned to the following committees:
- Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee
- State Affairs Committee, Democratic Ranking Member
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2019-2020
Smith was assigned to the following committees:
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2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Florida committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Government Accountability |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Florida State Senate elections, 2024
General election
The general election was canceled. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D) won without appearing on the ballot.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
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2022
See also: Florida House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Florida House of Representatives District 37
Susan Plasencia defeated incumbent Carlos Guillermo Smith in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 37 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Susan Plasencia (R)  | 51.9 | 27,720 |
 | Carlos Guillermo Smith (D) | 48.1 | 25,652 | |
| Total votes: 53,372 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Carlos Guillermo Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 37.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 37
Susan Plasencia defeated Kristopher Stark in the Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 37 on August 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Susan Plasencia | 74.3 | 7,352 |
 | Kristopher Stark | 25.7 | 2,542 | |
| Total votes: 9,894 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brad Sollberger (R)
Campaign finance
Endorsements
To view Smith's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.
2020
See also: Florida House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Florida House of Representatives District 49
Incumbent Carlos Guillermo Smith defeated Robert Allen Prater in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 49 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Carlos Guillermo Smith (D) | 61.9 | 47,759 |
| Robert Allen Prater (R) | 38.1 | 29,357 | ||
| Total votes: 77,116 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Carlos Guillermo Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 49.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Robert Allen Prater advanced from the Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 49.
2018
General election
General election for Florida House of Representatives District 49
Incumbent Carlos Guillermo Smith defeated Ben Griffin in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 49 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Carlos Guillermo Smith (D) | 64.2 | 38,131 |
| Ben Griffin (R) | 35.8 | 21,239 | ||
| Total votes: 59,370 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 49
Incumbent Carlos Guillermo Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 49 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Carlos Guillermo Smith |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 49
Ben Griffin advanced from the Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 49 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Ben Griffin | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Florida House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 30, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 24, 2016.
Carlos Guillermo Smith defeated Shea Silverman in the Florida House of Representatives District 49 general election.[2][3]
| Florida House of Representatives, District 49 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Carlos Guillermo Smith |
69.38% | 44,658 | |
| No party affiliation | Shea Silverman | 30.62% | 19,710 | |
| Total Votes | 64,368 | |||
| Source: Florida Division of Elections | ||||
Carlos Guillermo Smith ran unopposed in the Florida House of Representatives District 49 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Florida House of Representatives, District 49 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Carlos Guillermo Smith (unopposed) | |
Shea Silverman listed no party affiliation on the candidate list.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Carlos Guillermo Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Carlos Guillermo Smith completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Smith's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am running for Florida House District 37 because the residents of Florida need a true champion who fights for the needs of the people over politics. There are many issues on the ballot this November, some include a Woman’s right to bodily autonomy and access to abortion healthcare. Another issue is our ability to push gun reform legislation like banning assault weapons and passing universal background checks. Basic civil rights are under attack and I hope to be an essential voice for the people in Tallahassee once again. Climate change is a true threat which needs to be addressed, the affordable housing and insurance crisis needs to be a top priority and we must pay teachers/ public school staff a living wage so they can give quality education to our next generation without government restricting their ability to speak accurately about history. I am the first openly LGBTQ+ Hispanic lawmaker in the Florida House and I believe LGBTQ+ residents, Hispanic voters and immigrants deserve representation so we can do what is right by all people in Florida, not just some. In 2019,I married my partner Jerick Mediavilla Negron, an educator from Corozal, Puerto Rico. My husband and I are proud to call Union Park in House District 37 home and I work diligently every day to put people over politics.
- Gun Reform is needed so families can feel safe and to lessen gun violence in Florida.
- We must protect Abortion Healthcare Access and reproductive rights.
- We must support teachers and public school administration/staff. Paying them living wages.
I have been a champion for EQUALITY who’s proudly stood up for the FREEDOM of all Floridians – not just some. As a proven voice for the people of Central Florida, I have prioritized housing affordability, lowering healthcare costs, voting rights, protecting our rural boundaries and the environment while delivering results. I have brought back millions of dollars in state funding to our community for wounded combat veterans, first responders, the developmentally disabled, and those affected by the Pulse nightclub tragedy while leading a successful effort in 2022 to 100% fully fund $46 million in Cultural and Museum grants statewide for the first time in a decade. I have passed my own legislation as a member of the minority party and held leaders from both parties accountable. I am committed to bringing that same energy and passion to represent the newly-drawn House District 37, which now includes Orange and Seminole County.
I look up to the resilient men and women (and not non binary folks) in my community who work tirelessly, building our District to be an interconnected place to live. These working families build our economy, they fight for our most pressing issues and I am honored to be an elected voice for our constituents. I work hand in hand with residents, marching along side them when our civil liberties are under attack and speak up when other representatives will not. That is meaningful work, all of which would not be possible without the community members who work together to make Florida a place worth fighting for.
Legislators should be willing to listen and be fully accessible to their constituents. This means, being on top of constituent services, working in the field, answering emails in a timely manner, picking up the phone and making direct calls to residents while also being a leader on the House floor championing issues that matter to working class families.
I listen to my community. I am in the field every day, working diligently to first hear what constituents need, then fight for support to bring resources to the people I serve. I am a very organized person, with a ton of energy to give to this passion I call a career as a Florida Legislator. I take pride in my work, I do my homework on the various policies put before me and show up to each commitment asked of me in this role. When residents need someone to talk to, I personally strive to answer. This is important because many Politian's tend to disappear after an election. That is not my style. I like to keep everyone up to date through social media and make sure the entire state of Florida knows I am accessible to them because I represent all people of this state, even those of various political backgrounds.
Core responsibilities of legislators include, being available for the people who elected you into office. Making sure you are diligently working in an effective way to bring resources from the state into the communities one serves. Bring accessible on social media, on email and by the phone or mail. Making sure your office is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities or lack of mobility. Partnering with various nonprofit and advocacy groups who are on the front lines of our most pressing issues. These are all core responsibilities each representative should be focused on while serving.
I want to ban assault weapons and protect reproductive rights to each generation after my can feel safe walking in their communities and woman/non binary people can have have bodily autonomy. I hope to support legislation that can make our public education a competitive place to work, with livable wages and strong support for our teachers + education unions. I hope to progress ambitious climate legislation so our future families can live in a more environmentally friendly and resilient community.
My first managerial job was in a Men's Warehouse. I was there for several years before starting to volunteer and eventually work with Equality Florida. Then I was a legislative aide to Rep. Joe Saunders before running for office myself in 2016.
Being the first LGBTQ+ Hispanic Lawmaker in the Florida House of Representatives has been a journey. Discrimination and targeted bigotry has been a challenge but I have overcome these attacks time and time again. I am proud to be a role model for equality throughout the state of Florida and look forward to mentoring future generations worth of candidates looking to see true representation in our political arena here in the state.
Climate Change is our greatest threat here in the state of Florida. Sea level rise will have an economic impact throughout the entire state, driving future migration challenges and more natural disasters. We must develop resiliency plans to ensure people are not displaced from their homes.
Working in Tallahassee is a calling for me. I one day may be interested in running for the Florida Senate but I want to stay grounded in the work as a House Representative before making the decision.
In November 2016, Central Florida voters elected Carlos to represent them in the Florida House of Representatives and re-elected him in 2018 and 2020 with overwhelming majorities. A a battle-tested community leader, Carlos has been a champion for EQUALITY who’s proudly stood up for the FREEDOM of all Floridians – not just some.
As a proven voice for the people of Central Florida, Carlos has prioritized housing affordability, lowering healthcare costs, voting rights, protecting our rural boundaries and the environment while delivering results. He has brought back millions of dollars in state funding to our community for wounded combat veterans, first responders, the developmentally disabled, and those affected by the Pulse nightclub tragedy while leading a successful effort in 2022 to 100% fully fund $46 million in Cultural and Museum grants statewide for the first time in a decade. He has passed his own legislation as a member of the minority party and held leaders from both parties accountable. Carlos is committed to bringing that same energy and passion to represent the newly-drawn House District 37, which now includes Orange and Seminole County.
Orlando Magazine has repeatedly named Carlos as one of Orlando’s 50 Most Powerful People. In 2020, Carlos was named Florida PTA’s Legislator of the Year, and he has received numerous awards from the League of Women Voters of FL, the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Alliance for Arts Education, the Florida Education Association, the Hispanic Federation, Mi Familia Vota, the Florida Council on American Islamic Relations, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Metropolitan Business Association, Equality Florida, and the LGBTQ+ Center Orlando for his leadership.
With his election to the Florida House in 2016, Carlos made history as Florida’s first openly-LGBTQ Latino lawmaker. Out Magazine recognized Carlos as one of the “heroes of Pulse”.
Yes, there are times when compromise is essential for negotiating policy. However, private interest groups need to keep their money out of the political system so those funded by their special interests can also negotiate with sensible compromise, driven by the needs of the constituents.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2020
Carlos Guillermo Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Smith's campaign website highlighted the following issues: accessed September 28, 2016]</ref>
Stronger schools and affordable college
- Excerpt: "We cannot expect quality public education if we aren't willing to invest in it. Having a legislature that makes fully funding our public schools a priority is a must."
Social justice and safety
- Excerpt: "Carlos became a leader by fighting discrimination against minority communities, and he’ll continue to stand up against discrimination in all its forms. That includes fighting for reproductive rights, LGBT equality, and equal pay for equal work for women. And Carlos will keep us safe by standing up to the NRA and keeping guns off college campuses."
Better jobs and fairer treatments for workers
- Excerpt: "He will always stand up for workers by cracking down on irresponsible corporations that steal wages and treat employees unfairly. Carlos will work with reputable businesses to help create more and better jobs, including for those arriving from Puerto Rico."
Marijuana decriminalization
- Excerpt: "We can stop overflowing our prisons with 58,000 pot-related arrests annually, enact these necessary reforms to our criminal justice system, AND reduce the number drug-related arrests by up to 41%."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Florida scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Florida State Legislature was in session from January 11 to March 14.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Florida State Legislature was in session from March 2 to April 30.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Florida State Legislature was in session from January 14 to March 19.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Florida State Legislature was in session from March 5 through May 3.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Florida State Legislature was in session from January 9 through March 11.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Florida State Legislature was in session from March 7 through May 8. There was also a special session from June 7 to June 9.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Florida State Legislature was in session from January 12 through March 11.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Florida State Senate District 17 |
Officeholder Florida State Senate District 17 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Carlos Guillermo Smith, "About," accessed November 10, 2019
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidate listing for 2016 general election," accessed September 12, 2016
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "November 8, 2016 Official Election Results," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidates and Races," accessed July 1, 2016
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "August 30, 2016 Official Election Results," accessed September 22, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Linda Stewart (D) |
Florida State Senate District 17 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Florida House of Representatives District 49 2016-2022 |
Succeeded by Melony Bell (R) |
