Mark Lightner

Republican | Florida

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Candidate Profile

Mark Lightner — State Senate, District 19 (Florida Special Primary and Special General | April 1, 2025)
State Rep., Dist. 32 Florida Republican Primary and School Boards | August 18, 2026
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Leans Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Bachelors in Business, 2021

Eastern Florida State College, Melbourne, AA, 2019

Viera High School, Melbourne, High School, 2019

WORK & MILITARY

TPSE Inc., Business Development, 2023-2026

AFFILIATIONS

St. John's the Evangelist, Member, -

The Children's Hunger Project, CAB Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Candidate did not provide

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Candidate did not provide

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)

Bob White (2026)


OTHER INFORMATION

Candidate completed Ballotpedia 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Agree

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

None.

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Strongly Agree

The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.

Strongly Agree

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Strongly Agree


ECONOMY

What is your position on the minimum wage?

I support a free-market approach to wages. Employers competing for workers naturally drives pay higher. Government wage mandates often create unintended consequences, including higher prices, reduced hours, and fewer entry-level jobs.

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

1. Elect leaders with integrity who treat taxpayer dollars as carefully as their own money. 2. Create real consequences for waste, fraud, and abuse. Those responsible should be held accountable. 3. Increase transparency so taxpayers can easily see where their money is going. 4. Regularly review and eliminate ineffective or redundant government programs. 5. Ensure anti-waste laws are actually enforced. Laws are only as effective as their enforcement.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

To me, "separation of church and state" means the government should not establish or control a religion, and people should be free to practice their faith without government interference. It does not mean people of faith must leave their beliefs at the door when participating in public life or serving in government.

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

C. Medicaid and Medicare should remain available for those who depend on them, particularly seniors, individuals with disabilities, and vulnerable populations. However, I believe healthcare is best improved through market competition, transparency, consumer choice, and innovation rather than expanding taxpayer-funded healthcare programs.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Strongly Disagree


NATIONAL SECURITY

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Strongly Agree

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Israel is an important ally, but my priority is America. I support an America First foreign policy that puts the needs of American citizens before foreign governments. Any foreign aid should be carefully scrutinized and justified by a clear benefit to U.S. national interests and security.


IMMIGRATION

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Strongly Disagree


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Agree

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Strongly Agree


VALUES

Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.

Strongly Agree

Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.

Strongly Agree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Agree

I believe marriage is a God-ordained, sacred union between one man and one woman. At the same time, I do not believe government should decide who can or cannot get married. In my view, there is a distinction between marriage as a religious institution and marriage as a civil contract recognized by the state.

I support the expansion of gambling in my state.

Strongly Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I was raised Protestant, and a few years ago I felt called by God to convert to the Catholic Church, where I am now a practicing Catholic. My relationship with Christ is the center of my life and shapes how I think, serve, and lead. I believe in the dignity of every human person as created by God, the importance of family, and living with integrity, humility, and compassion. My faith is deeply personal, and while it guides my values, I respect others and their right to hold different beliefs and live according to their own convictions.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree


EQUALITY

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Strongly Disagree

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Strongly Agree


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.

Strongly Disagree

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Nuclear energy is the most reliable source to meet growing electricity demand. It provides constant, large-scale power regardless of weather, has a small land footprint, and produces very low emissions compared to other baseload options.


ABOUT YOU

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Very Conservative

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

No.

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

No.


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?

The goal of the criminal justice system should be both justice and rehabilitation. Violent or serious crime must be met with accountability to protect the public and uphold the rule of law. At the same time, the system should focus on rehabilitation to help individuals become productive members of society and reduce repeat offenses.

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree

Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.

Strongly Agree


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

I support the Second Amendment and believe law-abiding citizens should retain their rights without unnecessary restrictions. The only reasonable regulation I support is maintaining a minimum purchase age of 18.

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