 Photo: Florida House of Representatives
Republican state Rep. Michael Owen of Apollo Beach is seeking reelection to Florida House District 70 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democratic challenger Luther Keith Wilkins.
Owen, an attorney and former Hillsborough County commissioner, has sponsored legislation this term affecting county government structure, school governance and land use in southern Hillsborough County.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Apollo Beach, Florida
- Born: Dec. 23, 1975, in Houston, Texas
- Background: Moved to Florida in 1976 and was raised in Brandon, according to his Wikipedia page. Owen said he attended Burns Junior High and Bloomingdale High School and has lived in Hillsborough County for more than 40 years, according to his campaign website.
- Education: Bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Saint Leo University (1999); juris doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University (2009), according to his Florida House biography
- Religion: Christian; member of Arise Church
- Memberships: Chambers of Commerce, the Federalist Society and former member of the Brandon Rotary
Experience and public service
Owen is an attorney and partner at Owen & Dunivan, PLLC, a civil litigation firm he has been with since 2014. He previously founded the Law Offices of Michael J. Owen, PLLC, and worked as an associate attorney at Chris Ligori & Associates, where his firm biography notes he is licensed to practice in the Middle District of Florida in federal court. He played baseball on scholarship at Saint Leo University.
Owen also served in local government. He was Hillsborough County commissioner for District 4 and a commissioner at Port Tampa Bay, according to his Florida House biography.
On the issues
Local government reform: Owen sponsored HB 4029 to place a charter amendment before Hillsborough County voters that would expand the County Commission from seven to nine members, and eventually 11, with all commissioners elected from single-member districts. The Florida Senate approved the measure, which would appear on the November 2026 ballot if signed by the governor, Florida Politics reported.
Education governance: Owen also sponsored HB 4027, a referendum asking Hillsborough County voters whether to switch from an appointed to an elected superintendent of schools. If voters approve, the elected superintendent would serve a four-year term beginning with the 2028 general election, according to Florida Politics.
Land use and infrastructure: Owen sponsored HB 4061 to create the Land Reserve Stewardship District, a new independent special district spanning roughly 3,700 acres in southern Hillsborough County. The district would be authorized to plan, finance, build and maintain infrastructure within its boundaries, according to Florida Politics.
Taxes and spending: Owen said on his campaign website that he supports keeping taxes low, standing up to fee increases and investing in roads and infrastructure to combat traffic. He claimed a record of reducing government spending by $3.8 billion, delivering $1.3 billion in tax relief and nearly $1 billion in debt reduction.
Term limits: Owen proposed a bill in February 2025 that would create a constitutional referendum to limit Florida Senate members to two four-year terms and Florida House members to four two-year terms, according to Wikipedia.
Endorsements
The Associated Industries of Florida endorsed Owen for House District 70 in the 2026 cycle, as reported by FL Voice News. Brewster Bevis of the Associated Industries of Florida cited support for free enterprise, economic growth and policies that strengthen Florida's business environment.
- Brewster Bevis, Associated Industries of Florida
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