Juan Santana, a Hialeah nonprofit executive and property management professional, is running for Florida lieutenant governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He is the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Santana filed as a candidate on Aug. 27, 2026.

Asked why he is running, Santana said in our candidate questionnaire: "… I believe Florida needs leaders who are willing to listen to the people, bring communities together, and make government more accountable and responsive. My decision comes from years of community service and working directly with families, working people, seniors, people with disabilities, small businesses, and communities that often feel that their voices are not being heard."

Candidate information

Hometown: Born in Miami, according to Ballotpedia. His address on file with the Division of Elections is in Hialeah.

Education: Asked about his education, Santana said in our questionnaire: "FIU/Miami Dade political science construction management." Ballotpedia lists a high school diploma from Miami Coral Park Senior High and a bachelor's degree from Florida International University in 2006.

Family: Santana said in our questionnaire: "I am married to a beautiful woman named Jessica Santana. I have a step child named Raudi Candame and I'm also a caregiver of my best friend."

Family in politics: "No," Santana said in our questionnaire.

Party affiliation: Santana listed his party as "Republican" in our questionnaire. The Division of Elections also lists him as Republican. BallotReady election data lists his race designation as No Party Preference.

Experience and public service

Santana serves as vice president of Positive Hits Community Service Group South, a nonprofit organization, according to Florida Politics. He also works in property management, according to Ballotpedia.

Asked about previous and current offices, Santana said in our questionnaire: "I sit on the community advocacy board of Miami-Dade County current."

Santana has run for office several times. He ran for mayor of Hialeah in 2013, 2017 and 2021, according to Ballotpedia. He was a candidate for Hialeah City Council interim seats in 2022 and 2024, according to the Miami Herald. He also ran for Hialeah City Council Group IV in 2025, according to Ballotpedia.

Asked about accomplishments that show he can handle the job, Santana said in our questionnaire: "First, I founded and run Positive Hits Community Service Group … I wrote the budget, managed the board, dealt with state compliance, and delivered results with limited resources — that's exactly what governing is. Second, I built a for-profit company in e-commerce and internet marketing from the ground up."

On the issues

What sets him apart: Santana said in our questionnaire: "Most candidates in this race have spent their careers in politics. I've spent mine in the community and in business. I run Positive Hits Community Service Group, where I've seen firsthand what Florida families actually struggle with — because I've been in the rooms with them, delivering help, not just talking about it."

Housing and property taxes: Santana said he is running to stop "rising property taxes, gentrification and displacement" of residents, according to Florida Politics.

Best advice: Santana cited Mark 10:45 in our questionnaire: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve."

Other candidates in the lieutenant governor race are Bryan Avila (Republican), Gwen Graham (Democratic), Nicole Skelly (Libertarian), Benjiman Rojas (No Party Preference), Joe Van Vactor (No Party Preference), Rachel Rodriguez (No Party Preference) and Ruben A. Coto (No Party Preference), according to BallotReady.