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Op-ed

The Conservative Case for Colleen Burton

By Sam RomainChairman, Polk County Republican Executive Committee

Sen. Colleen Burton of Lakeland, chair of Senate Health Policy, is the Republican nominee for Florida Senate District 12 on Nov. 3, 2026.

State Sen. Colleen Burton of Lakeland is the Republican nominee for Florida Senate District 12, and she is endorsed by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee. The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Sen. Colleen Burton served in the Florida House from 2014 to 2022 and was elected to the Senate in 2022, and today she chairs the Senate Health Policy Committee.

Quick facts: Sen. Colleen Burton

Who is Colleen Burton?

Colleen Burton built her career serving Polk County long before she ran for office. She led Polk Vision, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Imperial Symphony Orchestra, and she serves on the VISTE board.

Born in Heidelberg, Germany, she moved to Florida in 1987 and made her home in Lakeland. She and her husband, Brad, have three grown children, Chris, Tim and Elizabeth, and three grandchildren. She is Roman Catholic.

She spent eight years in the Florida House, where she chaired the Health & Human Services Committee, before Polk voters sent her to the Senate in 2022. "The voters of Polk and Lake Counties can rest assured, I will protect our family values, stand up for law and order, and help bring opportunity and prosperity to our region," she said during that campaign.

What has Colleen Burton passed for Florida families?

Burton's bills are Florida law, according to the Florida Senate record:

On memory care, Burton said, "So often when securing assisted living facility arrangements for our loved ones, it is difficult to determine what level of memory care is available for our seniors, with no uniformity in what constitutes memory care." The bill passed the Senate 37 to 0 and the House 111 to 0, and it directs the Agency for Health Care Administration to set minimum standards for memory care licenses by June 1, 2027.

On mobile homes, she closed a loophole. "Mobile homeowners throughout our state do not qualify for rental assistance for their lot rental nor rehabilitation and emergency repairs for their home unlike traditional renters and homeowners," she said. The law is "only fair to the hundreds of thousands of Florida mobile homeowners." It passed 39 to 0 and 110 to 0. Her patient refund bill passed 37 to 0 and 112 to 0, and her birth-injury bill passed the Senate unanimously.

Why does Colleen Burton's seniority matter for Polk County?

A senator who chairs a committee decides which bills get a hearing. Burton chairs Health Policy, is Vice Chair of Judiciary, and sits on the Agriculture, Appropriations, Fiscal Policy and Rules committees. Those are the committees that shape health care, the courts, farming and the state budget. Re-electing her keeps that seniority working for Polk County.

What does Colleen Burton stand for?

Her campaign lists her priorities as affordable living, accessible health care, strong schools, workforce opportunity, safe communities and responsible growth.

Who endorsed Colleen Burton?

She is endorsed by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business, which speaks for Florida's small businesses.

Why should Polk County vote for Colleen Burton?

  • She is Polk's own. She has led Lakeland nonprofits and civic groups for decades.
  • She protects seniors. Her memory care law protects families who are choosing care for a loved one.
  • She delivers results. Her bills on memory care, mobile homes, birth-injury families and patient refunds are now law.
  • She has seniority. She chairs Health Policy and serves on the budget and rules committees.

Frequently asked questions

Who represents Florida Senate District 12? Sen. Colleen Burton, a Republican from Lakeland, first elected to the Senate in 2022.

Is Colleen Burton a conservative? Yes. She ran on protecting family values and law and order, and the Florida Chamber and the NFIB back her for her pro-business record.

What has Colleen Burton done for Polk County? She led Polk Vision, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Imperial Symphony Orchestra before office. In the Senate she passed laws on memory care licensing, mobile home lot rent assistance, birth-injury families and patient refunds, which help seniors and families in Polk.

Who endorsed Colleen Burton? The Polk County Republican Executive Committee, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the NFIB.

What committee does Sen. Burton chair? The Senate Health Policy Committee. She is also Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee.

When is the election? Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting runs October 19 through October 31.

What is Florida's new memory care law? SB 1404, sponsored by Sen. Burton, requires assisted living facilities that offer memory care to hold a memory care license.

How to vote in Polk County

Early voting runs from Monday, October 19 through Saturday, October 31, from 9 AM to 6 PM at any of Polk County's 10 early voting sites. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM. For locations and vote-by-mail details, see the Polk County GOP Voter Guide.

Vote Colleen Burton for Florida Senate, District 12.

Want to help? Volunteer today at polk.gop/volunteer.

Sources

Paid political advertisement paid for by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee, 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd; Box 108, Winter Haven, FL 33884. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Portrait of Sam Romain

About the author

Sam Romain

Chairman, Polk County Republican Executive Committee

Sam Romain is Chairman of the Polk County Republican Executive Committee, the county party organization representing registered Republicans across Polk County's precincts. He writes here on behalf of the committee on elections, county governance and the issues facing Polk County voters.

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