Benjamin Sandlin, a 22-year-old Jacksonville Democrat, is running for Florida House District 12 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Republican Terrance Freeman, according to BallotReady election data.

Sandlin filed for the race on June 5, 2026, and qualified on June 12, 2026, by paying the qualifying fee, according to the Florida Division of Elections. This is his second run for the seat. He lost the Nov. 5, 2024, general election to then-incumbent Wyman Duggan by about 14 percentage points, 42.9% to 57.1%, according to Florida Politics.

Sandlin has said state Rep. Angie Nixon inspired him to run for office. Nixon told him during a meeting in Tallahassee, while he was there protesting permitless carry legislation, that running for office was a way to make change, according to Florida Politics.

Candidate information

  • Age: 22
  • Party: Democratic
  • Residence: Jacksonville, Florida
  • Education: High school diploma in musical theater, Douglas Anderson School (2022); political science, University of Central Florida; physics, University of North Florida
  • Family: Son of Tom Sandlin and Rachel Gaillard, according to Sandlin's response to the News4JAX voter's guide

Experience and public service

Sandlin has held a mix of jobs and civic roles, according to multiple sources:

  • Package delivery driver at Amazon, according to Jacksonville.com
  • Afterschool program worker at J. Allen Axson Elementary in Duval County Public Schools, according to The Tributary
  • Physics research assistant at the University of North Florida, according to The Tributary
  • Assistant preschool teacher at the Episcopal Church of Good Shepherd, according to WNDB News Daytona Beach
  • Co-director and organizer, March for Our Lives UCF chapter, according to Sandlin
  • Student body senate member at the University of Central Florida, according to WNDB News Daytona Beach
  • Political director, Jacksonville Young Democrats, according to Sandlin's voter's guide response

Sandlin said his sister serves as his campaign manager for the 2026 race, according to his response to Jacksonville.com.

On the issues

The following positions are based on Sandlin's own responses to the News4JAX voter's guide and The Tributary.

Housing and affordability: Sandlin said he would pass laws to pave the way for housing built for sale only to Florida families and work with cities to develop high-quality, high-density housing.

Education: Sandlin said he would follow the guidance of education professionals, provide universal childcare and end what he called the siphoning of public school resources to private entities. He said he opposes vouchers that divert public school funding.

Labor and workers' rights: Sandlin said he wants to end what he described as Florida's status as an anti-union, anti-worker state and allow Florida workers to collectively bargain.

Voting rights: Sandlin said he would fight any attempt by Republicans to undermine the will of Floridians and work to draft legislation to increase accessibility, especially for communities he said have been historically left out.

Police oversight and civil rights: Sandlin said he opposed legislation that removed the power of citizen oversight boards to review individual police officers, calling it "a deliberate attack on people that are trying to just bring social justice."