Sousa Lazaballet Wins Florida House District 42
Democrat Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet defeats Republican Bonnie Jackson to claim the seat left open by term-limited Representative Anna V. Eskamani.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet defeated Republican Bonnie Jackson in the Nov. 3 election for Florida House District 42, taking 62.41% of the vote. The win secures the seat held for four years by term-limited Representative Anna V. Eskamani.
Why it matters
The result keeps the seat in Democratic hands as Eskamani steps down under term limits. Sousa-Lazaballet's win also makes him the first DREAMer and first Brazilian-American to serve in the Florida State House.
Sousa-Lazaballet won 49,752 votes (62.41%) to Jackson's 29,972 (37.59%), according to Florida Division of Elections results. The source does not report turnout or whether any recount or challenge is pending.
The players
Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet
A Democrat who came to the United States undocumented and became the first DREAMer and first Brazilian-American elected to the Florida State House.
Bonnie Jackson
The Republican nominee who lost the District 42 race to Sousa-Lazaballet.
Anna V. Eskamani
The Democratic state representative who held the District 42 seat for four years before being term-limited.
The details
The election covered a large portion of central Orange County, including Maitland, Winter Park, Eatonville, Belle Isle, Edgewood, Baldwin Park, Mills 50, North Colonialtown, the Milk District and parts of downtown Orlando. Sousa-Lazaballet came to the United States undocumented before becoming the first DREAMer elected to the Florida House.
Timeline
Nov. 3, 2026: Election for Florida House District 42 held.
Season Trajectory
The win continues Democratic control of the District 42 seat that Anna V. Eskamani held for four years before her term limit. Sousa-Lazaballet inherits a district spanning central Orange County, from Winter Park to downtown Orlando.
Residents of District 42 will be represented by Sousa-Lazaballet in the Florida House, replacing Eskamani's seat. The source does not specify a swearing-in date or the start of the legislative session he will join.
The takeaway
Sousa-Lazaballet's election marks a first for DREAMers and Brazilian-Americans in the Florida State House. District 42 voters have chosen a successor to a term-limited incumbent in a race decided by roughly 25 points.
Further reading
For more on how state legislative seats are decided, see Elections coverage.
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