Jennifer Jenkins, a Democrat from Satellite Beach, has announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 8th Congressional District. She cited rising costs and the need for local representation as her primary motivations. Jenkins, a speech-language pathologist and former Brevard County School Board member, said she has felt the strain of living expenses firsthand, including working two jobs and delivering groceries through Instacart after college.
Jenkins’ campaign focuses on three priorities: reducing the cost of living, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and strengthening public schools. She emphasized that families in the district are being squeezed by housing, grocery, insurance, and healthcare costs. Her experience on the school board and in healthcare has shaped her approach to policy, she said.
The candidate described the most urgent challenge as the growing difficulty of affording basic needs. She proposed addressing this through legislative action to curb inflation and increase access to affordable housing. Jenkins also highlighted her background in education, noting that stable schools are critical for long-term community health.
Jenkins’ campaign materials, published by The Space Coast Rocket on July 22, 2026, include her verbatim responses to a questionnaire. She reiterated that her goal is to represent the community’s struggles without the “distant politician” stigma she says plagues current leadership.
Residents in Brevard County, which includes parts of Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center, will face a choice in the 2026 election. Jenkins’ focus on local issues contrasts with national political debates, a strategy she believes resonates with voters weary of partisan gridlock.