Juan Santana of Hialeah is running for Florida lieutenant governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election as the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto.

Santana filed as a lieutenant governor candidate on Aug. 27, 2026, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Asked in our candidate questionnaire why he is seeking the office, Santana said, "I am running for Lieutenant Governor because I believe Florida needs leaders who are willing to listen to the people, bring communities together, and make government more accountable and responsive."

He added: "I am not running simply to hold a title. I am running because I believe public office should be about service, responsibility, and results."

Other candidates in the race, according to BallotReady election data and Ballotpedia, are Benjiman Rojas (No Party Preference), Bryan Avila (Republican), Gwen Graham (Democratic), Joe Van Vactor (No Party Preference), Nicole Skelly (Libertarian), Rachel Rodriguez (No Party Preference) and Ruben A. Coto (No Party Preference).

Candidate information

Hometown: Born in Miami, Florida.

Party affiliation: "Republican," Santana said in our questionnaire. The Florida Division of Elections also lists him as Republican, though BallotReady election data lists him as No Party Preference.

Education: Asked about his education in our questionnaire, Santana said, "FIU/Miami Dade political science construction management." According to Ballotpedia, he holds a high school diploma from Miami Coral Park Senior High and a bachelor's degree from Florida International University (2006).

Family: "I am married to a beautiful woman named Jessica Santana. I have a step child named Raudi Candame and I'm also a caregiver of my best friend," Santana said in our questionnaire.

Family in politics or government: "No," Santana said in our questionnaire.

Appointed office: "I sit on the community advocacy board of Miami-Dade County current," Santana said in our questionnaire.

Experience and public service

Santana is a nonprofit executive and property management professional, according to Ballotpedia. He serves as vice president of Positive Hits Community Service Group South, according to Florida Politics.

He has run for office several times in Hialeah: candidate for mayor in 2013, 2017 and 2021; candidate for a Hialeah City Council interim seat in 2022 and 2024; and candidate for Hialeah City Council Group IV in 2025, according to Ballotpedia and the Miami Herald.

Asked about his work history in our questionnaire, Santana said, "I have worked directly with individuals and families throughout South Florida, helping connect people with community resources, social services, employment opportunities, and other assistance needed to improve their quality of life."

On the issues

The best advice ever shared with me was: Santana cited Mark 10:45 in our questionnaire: "'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.'"

Accomplishments: Asked what evidence he would cite for handling the job, Santana said in our questionnaire, "I founded and run Positive Hits Community Service Group … I wrote the budget, managed the board, dealt with state compliance, and delivered results with limited resources — that's exactly what governing is." He also said, "I built a for-profit company in e-commerce and internet marketing from the ground up."

Key differences from opponents: "Most candidates in this race have spent their careers in politics. I've spent mine in the community and in business," Santana said in our questionnaire. He added: "The critical difference is simple: my opponents study these problems from a podium. I've lived them."

Housing: In a prior Hialeah council race, Santana said he was running to stop "rising property taxes, gentrification and displacement" of residents, according to Florida Politics. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.