Leaving office January 1, 2027.Did not run for re-election in 2026. This page switches to the former-officeholder layout when the term ends.

RepublicanIn office until January 1, 2027

James Buchanan

Florida State Representative, District 74 since 2018. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Won the 2026 race for Florida Senate District 22.

Florida State Representative, District 74Born 1982

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 7 yrs; Since 2018
Bills became law: 1; 3 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 2.7%; Chamber median 2.7%
With party: 98%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +14.1; Won 2026

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

Commerce · chair
Budget

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 3 sponsored · 1 became law

BillIntroCmteHouseSenateLaw

HB 967 Electronic Payments Made to Units of Local Governments
taxation and finance · Became law Jun 2026

HB 1581 Local Government Salaries and Benefits
municipalities · Failed in the Senate Jun 2025

HB 1617 Stem Cell Therapy
subject index · Failed in the House Apr 2025

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Buchanan sits in the Florida House of Representatives

Buchanan is closer to the center than 54% of the chamber's Republicans.

Closest: Juan Porras, Richard Gentry, Dean Black

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:48 PM ET

With Buchanan’s party

Votes with the chamber's Republicans98%
Cosponsorships of the other party's bills8%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Florida House of Representatives.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Buchanan’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

Date	Bill	Buchanan	Rep. majority	Dem. majority	Result
Apr 29, 2026	HB 1D: Establishing the Congressional Districts of the State	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 83–28
Mar 13, 2026	SB 7040: Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund/Executive Office of the Governor	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 80–20
Mar 13, 2026	HB 1279: Education	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 81–16
Mar 13, 2026	HB 905: Foreign Influence	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 83–17
Mar 12, 2026	HB 757: School Safety	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 88–20

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Buchanan was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

20182019202020212022202320242025202620272028Florida House of Representatives, District 74

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

Year	Race	Result	Margin	Seat	+/−
2026	Florida Senate District 22	Won	R+14.1	R+18.2	−4.1
2024	Florida House of Representatives, District 74	Won	R+29.3	—	—
2022	Florida House of Representatives, District 74	Won	—	—	—
2020	Florida House of Representatives, District 74	Won	R+24.1	—	—
2018	Florida House of Representatives, District 74	Won	R+16.4	—	—