As congressional candidates gear up for the 2026 midterm primary elections, one candidate who might have to answer for his past position on illegal immigration is Republican congressional candidate and former State Representative George Moraitis (R).
Moraitis is running on immigration issues such as securing the nation’s borders, backing border patrol, removing undocumented individuals, and enforcing immigration laws;.
However, his voting history in the Florida Legislature signals support for undocumented migrants.
In 2014, the Republican lawmaker voted in favor of House Bill 851, a law that authorized undocumented individuals to receive K-20 education in the state, as required by the state's constitution and the Florida Educational Equity statute.
Could this mean that Moraitis is drawing a line against the current administration’s efforts to bar undocumented migrants from receiving higher education, or could he have had a change of mind in the 12 years since the bill’s passage?
Republican Candidates Continue To Advocate For Immigration Issues in Florida
In Florida, immigration has been an extremely contentious issue as the Republican majority state sits in the third spot among states across the country with the most immigrants (5.4 million), according to the most recent data from 2024.
This figure places the Sunshine State’s foreign-born population at 23.1% of the total population.
Despite the population makeup, Republican candidates understand the appeal of advocating for immigration issues and have continued to address it throughout the 2026 Midterm Election cycle.
According to recent data from NPR, GOP candidates and their supporting organizations have run roughly 300 nationwide ads in 2026 alone that either fully address immigration or mention it. A stark contrast to Democratic competitors and organizations, who have reportedly run 62 ads in the same span.
Florida State Board of Education's Decision On Undocumented Education
One of the most recent controversial decisions made in Florida includes the Florida State Board of Education’s approval to bar undocumented students from admission into colleges in the Florida College System and adult education programs. The decision was made in the midst of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) effort to prosecute states that provide this group in-state tuition.
According to iVoter Guide, Moraitis does support eliminating the Department of Education, giving states more control. However, there appears to be nothing online about his views on the recent decisions on higher education.
Does Moraitis’ apparent silence on the matter signal conditional support for the administration’s mission to combat illegal immigration?
As Early Voting has proceeds in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties, the question of whether Moraitis aligns himself with the majority of conservatives and their views on immigration persists.
