Dr. Jarod Fox.
From Staff Reports
In Summary:
Dr. Jarod Fox has entered the race for Florida House District 39, positioning himself as a healthcare-focused candidate in a district trending toward Democrats. The Winter Garden physician is emphasizing affordability, public education, and economic opportunity in his campaign. He will face incumbent Republican Doug Bankson, a former Apopka city commissioner, in the November 2026 election.
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An Orlando-based infectious disease specialist is entering the race for Florida House District 39, setting up a challenge to incumbent Republican Rep. Doug Bankson in a district that Democrats see as increasingly competitive.
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Dr. Jarod Fox formally announced his campaign this week, emphasizing healthcare affordability and public education as central pillars of his platform. Fox, who filed to run on March 2, said his experience as a physician has shaped his decision to enter politics.
“As a physician, it’s critical that my patients can afford the life-saving medicines that my colleagues and I are prescribing,” Fox said in a campaign statement. “With costs out of control, Floridians are often forced to decide between medical care, groceries, and rent. I’m running because District 39 deserves a leader focused on real solutions, fighting to lower healthcare costs and protect public education.”
Fox works as an infectious disease specialist at Orlando Health and has spent years treating patients across Central Florida. His campaign is also expected to focus on investing in small businesses, in addition to addressing rising healthcare costs and supporting public schools.
He and his wife, a primary care physician, live in Winter Garden with their three children, who attend Orange County public schools. The family is active in the community through Mosaic Church and local youth sports.
House District 39 covers parts of northwest Orange County and west Seminole County, including communities such as Apopka and Winter Garden. The seat is currently held by Bankson, an Apopka pastor and former city commissioner who was first elected to the Florida House in 2022.
House District 39 has grown increasingly competitive over the past two election cycles. In 2022, Bankson won the open seat with 55.6% of the vote, defeating Democrat Tiffany Hughes by more than 11 percentage points. Two years later, Bankson was re-elected with 53% against Democrat Marsha Summersill’s 47%, cutting his margin of victory nearly in half. The shift — from an 11-point race to a 6-point race — along with a significant increase in overall turnout, underscores why Democrats now view the district as a legitimate pickup opportunity heading into 2026.
The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, and the race is expected to draw attention as Democrats look to flip the seat in a closely watched Central Florida district.
Key Points:
- Dr. Jarod Fox announced his candidacy for Florida House District 39.
- Fox is an infectious disease specialist at Orlando Health.
- He is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Doug Bankson.
- His campaign focuses on healthcare costs, public education, and small business investment.
- District 39 includes parts of Orange and Seminole counties and has shifted toward Democrats in recent elections.
