Tony Diaz Pitches Election Reform, Affordability Agenda in HD 113 Primary

Tony Diaz, Republican candidate for Florida House District 113

MIAMI — Republican businessman Tony Diaz is making election reform, affordability and property insurance central to his campaign for Florida House District 113, a competitive Miami-Dade seat that has remained vacant since November.

Diaz also received the Miami Herald Editorial Board’s endorsement in the Aug. 18 Republican primary. The board selected him over former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro and businessman Frank Lago.

The recommendation represents the editorial board’s opinion and should not be confused with an endorsement by the Herald’s news department.

Diaz entered the race in November, presenting himself as an anti-establishment Republican who would challenge special interests and what he considers complacency within the Legislature’s Republican majority.

Election reform leads Diaz’s agenda

In a Florida Politics candidate questionnaire, Diaz identified election reform as a leading priority.

He said Florida should require a special election whenever an elected office becomes vacant, with candidate qualifying scheduled no later than four weeks after the vacancy occurs. Diaz also supports strengthening residency requirements for state officeholders and introducing runoff elections in party primaries.

House District 113 has lacked representation since former Republican Rep. Vicki Lopez was appointed to the Miami-Dade County Commission in November 2025.

Earlier this year, Diaz established an unofficial constituent office at his Silver Bluff property, offering to help residents communicate with state officials while the House seat remained vacant.

Insurance, housing and local control

Diaz has called for repealing Florida’s Live Local Act and returning greater control over zoning decisions to local governments. He argues that Tallahassee’s approach to development has weakened the ability of communities to manage growth and preserve neighborhood character.

On property insurance, Diaz said lawmakers have not gone far enough and proposed restrictions preventing insurers from selectively offering policies only in areas with lower hurricane or flooding risks.

He also wants Florida to prohibit Florida Power & Light and its parent company, NextEra Energy, from making state political contributions, arguing that donations from regulated utilities create conflicts of interest.

Diaz supports a four-year moratorium on new artificial-intelligence data centers while Florida evaluates their effects on electricity demand, water consumption, infrastructure and the environment.

He opposes loosening Florida’s abortion restrictions but supports both medical and recreational marijuana legalization.

Three Republicans compete for the nomination

Barreiro brings decades of elected experience to the primary. He previously served in the Florida House and represented District 5 on the Miami-Dade County Commission.

Lago, a real estate professional, entered the contest with Lopez’s endorsement and has led portions of the campaign’s fundraising.

According to Ballotpedia and MultiState Elections, Diaz, Barreiro and Lago will compete in the Aug. 18 Republican primary.

The winner will advance to the November election against the Democratic nominee and qualified write-in candidate Paola Vazquez del Mercado. Gloria Romero Roses and Justin Mendoza Routt are competing for the Democratic nomination.

The official Florida House district map shows HD 113 includes Key Biscayne, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Silver Bluff, Shenandoah, portions of downtown Miami and parts of Miami Beach.

Diaz is listed as qualified by the Florida Division of Elections.