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26th Congressional District · 2026 U.S. House · Unofficial result

U.S. House, 26th District: what did each candidate actually say they'd do?

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) ran for re-election against Democrat Nicole Locklin, a lawyer who says she is Lead Counsel at Databricks, and Deborah Hosey, who has no party affiliation. With all 67 counties reporting, Diaz-Balart leads by 1,772 votes. Our saved sources show no race call and no concession, and the count is unofficial until certified. Hosey had no campaign website we could find. Check your own address on the Florida Division of Elections voter lookup to confirm your district.

Diaz-Balart leadsAll counties reporting; no call or concession in our sources; unofficial until certified1
49.87%Diaz-Balart (R): 114,5471
49.10%Locklin (D): 112,7751
1.02%Hosey (No Party Affiliation): 2,3481
1,772Vote margin of 229,670 cast1

Do they have a plan?

We read every issue on each candidate's own website and checked the same six things for every one. We count what's there. We don't grade whether the ideas are good. Read the full scoring rules

Of the issues on their website, how many...Mario Diaz-BalartDeborah HoseyNicole Locklin
Names a policy4 of 6
No website found10 of 15
Says how they'd do it0 of 6
No website found4 of 15
Includes a number or target0 of 6
No website found1 of 15
Says how it's paid for0 of 6
No website found0 of 15
Gives a timeline0 of 6
No website found0 of 15
Points to a record4 of 6
No website found1 of 15

The candidates, side by side

Each topic shows every candidate's own words on it, in alphabetical order, from their own website. "Nothing on this topic" means their site doesn't cover it. Topic rows are grouped by us from their headings; the scores don't change.

Mario Diaz-BalartRepublican
Deborah HoseyNo Party Affiliation
Nicole LocklinDemocrat
Who they are
Mario Diaz-Balart
Incumbent: his Home page says "Eleven terms in the U.S. House."2 His campaign site is a single page; its Priorities section lists six items, and a Record section above it lists thirteen funding and law items, which are credited to the matching priority. His /issues address returned not found (404). The page is in English and Spanish; only the English text is quoted. The page also carries leftover design-instruction text for a portrait photo, which we did not quote or score.
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found as of 11/5/2026. Listed on the ballot as Deborah Ann Meidinger Hosey.
Nicole Locklin
Lawyer; her Biography says "Nicole continued her role as Lead Counsel at Databricks."15 Her site lists no elected office. Her Home page lists ten issue headings and her Issues menu has ten pages; pages that sit behind a Home heading are scored under it. Immigration, Cuba, Palestine, Epstein Files and My Opponent have no Home heading and are scored on their own. The Corruption page has six numbered sections, scored as one issue (its note that it is "TO BE CONTINUED" shows it is unfinished).7
Abortion
Mario Diaz-Balart
Nothing on this topic
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
Defending Reproductive Freedom"I will fight to restore abortion rights nationwide and protect access to contraception, fertility treatment, and emergency reproductive care."3
Names a policy
Immigration and the border
Mario Diaz-Balart
Secure the Border"Detaining and removing criminal aliens, cracking down on fentanyl trafficking, and backing the men and women who enforce our laws."2
None of the six checks
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
ImmigrationHer page is headed "ABOLISH I.C.E." and says: "If a system repeatedly violates constitutional protections and harms communities, it is our duty to see that it STOPS."9
Names a policy
Social Security, Medicare and seniors
Mario Diaz-Balart
Nothing on this topic
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
Protecting Social Security and Medicare"I support asking wealthy Americans to pay Social Security taxes on more of their income". Also: "support the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act. It would provide eligible working family caregivers with a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for expenses such as home care, transportation, medical supplies, respite care, and home modifications." (Her Social Security page, which the Home page links from this heading, carries the detail.)3, 5
Names a policySays how they'd do itIncludes a number or target
Health care
Mario Diaz-Balart
Nothing on this topic
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
Affordable Housing and Insurance"I will confront insurance companies that charge enormous premiums while abandoning homeowners, protect renters from extreme increases, build more affordable housing, and stop corporate investors from buying up our neighborhoods."3
None of the six checks
Affordable Healthcare"I support the fastest responsible path to universal healthcare." Her Healthcare page adds: "Medicare for All, a strong public option, Medicare buy-in, or any model that gets us to universal coverage."3, 6
Names a policy
Child care and families
Mario Diaz-Balart
Protect Our Children"$135M for school violence prevention, tougher laws against online predators, and reinforced parental rights in education." His Record section adds: "Secured at least $135 million for school violence prevention through the STOP School Violence Act".2
Names a policyPoints to a record
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
Making Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share"I will fight to tax extreme wealth, make large corporations pay what they owe, and provide meaningful tax relief to working- and middle-class families."3
None of the six checks
Energy and environment
Mario Diaz-Balart
Protect the Everglades"Continuing the work of the Everglades Caucus to protect Florida's natural heritage and water supply for future generations." His Record section adds: "more than $6 billion delivered since his election for the EAA and C-43 Reservoirs and other CERP projects".2
Points to a record
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
Cuba"Focus sanctions on officials responsible for corruption and human rights abuses, instead of broad restrictions that impact an entire population." Also: "I will expand humanitarian access to food, medicine, and energy support."10
Names a policySays how they'd do it
Crime and public safety
Mario Diaz-Balart
Nothing on this topic
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
Keeping Our Communities Safe"I support accountable policing, mental-health and addiction services, community violence prevention, universal background checks, safe firearm storage, and stronger protections for survivors of domestic violence."3
Names a policy
Epstein Files"It means ending backroom non-prosecution agreements, requiring independent review of major federal cases, removing statutes of limitations for child exploitation crimes, and using Congress's full oversight authority, including subpoena power".12
Names a policySays how they'd do it
Ethics, term limits and money in politics
Mario Diaz-Balart
Nothing on this topic
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
Fighting Corruption"I refuse corporate PAC money because corporations should not be able to buy members of Congress. I will fight to ban congressional stock trading, expose dark money, overturn Citizens United, close billionaire tax loopholes, and hold public officials accountable regardless of party." Her Corruption page adds, on the stock ban: "Assets should be placed in blind trusts or diversified index funds." and "Violations should carry real financial penalties and ethics sanctions." (The page has six numbered sections; they are scored here as one issue.)3, 7
Names a policySays how they'd do itPoints to a record
Palestine"That means immediate transparency on what weapons are being transferred, strict human-rights conditions on aid, full enforcement of existing U.S. law, and support for independent investigations and accountability mechanisms."11
Names a policy
Taxes, jobs and the economy
Mario Diaz-Balart
Lower the Cost of Living"No tax on tips or overtime, permanent tax cuts for working families, and relief for seniors".2
Names a policy
Support Small Business"expanded tax relief and renewed Opportunity Zones". His Record section adds: "Secured $324 million for the CDFI Fund and $140 million for Small Business Development Centers".2
Names a policyPoints to a record
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
Making South Florida Affordable"I will fight price-gouging, lower essential costs, protect consumers, and make billionaires and large corporations pay their fair share." Her Affordability page adds: "Bring deficits and debt under control without cutting healthcare and basic services."3, 4
None of the six checks
Better Jobs and Stronger Wages"I will fight for wages that reflect the cost of living, paid family and medical leave, affordable childcare, stronger unions, and protections against wage theft."3
Names a policy
Defense and foreign policy
Mario Diaz-Balart
Nothing on this topic
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
Ending Endless Wars"I will not support another unnecessary or unauthorized war. I will put diplomacy first, oppose blank checks for governments that violate human rights, and demand transparency about where our money and weapons go." (Her Iran War page, linked from this heading, argues that Congress holds the power to declare war.)3, 8
None of the six checks
Rights and freedoms
Mario Diaz-Balart
Defend Liberty"Standing with political prisoners and dissidents in exile. Defending freedom in our hemisphere. Rejecting authoritarianism." His Record section adds: "Directed $25 million for Cuba's democratic opposition plus $30 million for Radio and TV Martí".2
Names a policyPoints to a record
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
Nothing on this topic
Other
Mario Diaz-Balart
Nothing on this topic
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found
Nicole Locklin
My Opponent"This page will attempt to catalog the many failures of Mario Diaz-Balart." It lists criticisms of her opponent and states no policy of her own.13
None of the six checks
Their record
Mario Diaz-Balart
  • Says he has served "Eleven terms in the U.S. House" and "fourteen years in the Florida State Legislature" before that, and is "Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations".2
Deborah Hosey
None listed
Nicole Locklin
  • A lawyer for more than a decade, by her own account.14 Says she "refuse[s] corporate PAC money".3 Her site lists no elected office.
In their words
Mario Diaz-Balart

"Federal dollars secured. Legislation passed. Communities protected."

Mario Diaz-Balart, campaign Home page2

"The Voice of Experience At The Table."

Mario Diaz-Balart, campaign Home page2
Deborah Hosey
None
Nicole Locklin

"If you can't buy her, you can't control her."

Nicole Locklin, campaign Corruption page7

"Government for the people, not the powerful few."

Nicole Locklin, campaign About page14
Where we read it
Mario Diaz-Balart
Website: mariodiazbalart.com (checked 11/5/2026)
Deborah Hosey
No campaign website found (checked 11/5/2026)
Nicole Locklin
Website: locklinforcongress.com (checked 11/5/2026)

The middle

Where they agree

  • Both promise tax relief for working families. Diaz-Balart: "permanent tax cuts for working families".2 Locklin: "meaningful tax relief to working- and middle-class families".3
  • Both want to press the Cuban government. Diaz-Balart lists "Standing with political prisoners and dissidents in exile."2 Locklin: "the Cuban government has failed its people."10

Where they really split

  • Cuba policy: Locklin would "Focus sanctions on officials responsible for corruption and human rights abuses, instead of broad restrictions that impact an entire population."10 Diaz-Balart points to "$25 million for Cuba's democratic opposition".2
  • Immigration: Diaz-Balart wants "Detaining and removing criminal aliens".2 Locklin's page is headed "ABOLISH I.C.E."9
  • Health care: Locklin supports "the fastest responsible path to universal healthcare."3 Diaz-Balart's Record cites "$1.9 billion for Community Health Centers".2

What each one leaves out

  • Diaz-Balart's six priorities name a policy on four and spell out how on none. They carry no future numbers, costs or dates. His Record section points to funding he secured or directed on four of them. It names no border bill or vote.2
  • Locklin's fifteen issues name a policy on ten and spell out how on four (Social Security, corruption, Cuba, Epstein files). One carries a future number (a $5,000 caregiver credit). None names a cost or a date, and her only record item is her refusal of corporate PAC money.3, 5, 7, 10, 12
  • Deborah Hosey (No Party Affiliation) is on the ballot, but we found no campaign website for her.
Sources (checked 11/5/2026)
  1. Florida Division of Elections, Florida Election Watch, unofficial (all 67 counties at 100% of precincts reporting): floridaelectionwatch.gov/FederalOffices/USRepresentative
  2. Mario Diaz-Balart campaign, Home (Record and Priorities sections): mariodiazbalart.com
  3. Nicole Locklin campaign, Home: locklinforcongress.com
  4. Nicole Locklin campaign, Affordability: locklinforcongress.com/issues-affordability
  5. Nicole Locklin campaign, Social Security: locklinforcongress.com/issues-social-security
  6. Nicole Locklin campaign, Healthcare: locklinforcongress.com/issues-healthcare
  7. Nicole Locklin campaign, Corruption: locklinforcongress.com/corruption
  8. Nicole Locklin campaign, Iran War: locklinforcongress.com/issues-iran-war
  9. Nicole Locklin campaign, Immigration: locklinforcongress.com/issues-immigration
  10. Nicole Locklin campaign, Cuba: locklinforcongress.com/issues-cuba
  11. Nicole Locklin campaign, Palestine: locklinforcongress.com/issues-palestine
  12. Nicole Locklin campaign, Epstein Files: locklinforcongress.com/issues-epstein-files
  13. Nicole Locklin campaign, My Opponent: locklinforcongress.com/mario-diaz-balart
  14. Nicole Locklin campaign, About: locklinforcongress.com/about-nicole-locklin
  15. Nicole Locklin campaign, Biography: locklinforcongress.com/nicole-bio