Lauren Melo, a business owner and current member of the Florida House of Representatives, has received the endorsement of the Florida Chamber of Commerce for her campaign in Senate District 28 for the 2026 election. Melo is known in Southwest Florida for her entrepreneurial background, including founding a trucking company that expanded to over one hundred trucks and currently operating a real estate brokerage.
During her time in the state legislature, Melo has been recognized by the Florida Chamber of Commerce with multiple “Distinguished Advocate” awards. She has focused on policies aimed at job creation, workforce development, and tax relief.
Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, stated: “The Florida Chamber of Commerce is proud to join Florida Senate leaders in endorsing Lauren Melo as Senate District 28’s next senator. Lauren is a Florida Chamber two-time ‘Distinguished Advocate,’ a lifetime A-rated legislator, and as a small business owner and pro-jobs advocate, we are confident that she will fight to create good-paying jobs to make Florida even more competitive.”
Melo responded to the endorsement by saying: “Florida businesses are the backbone of our economy. Their hard work, investment and innovation drive our economy, support good-paying jobs for hard-working Floridians and build a brighter future for our great state. I am honored to have earned the endorsement of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and I will continue to fight for policies that enable businesses, workers and families to prosper.”
Senate District 28 includes Volusia County and is considered solidly Republican according to the Florida Chamber’s Partisan Performance Index. In recent elections, both Donald Trump in 2024 and Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022 received over 65 percent of votes in this district.
The organization noted it would use its extensive political experience—spanning more than one hundred years—to support Melo’s candidacy.
