Art Stresing, a 43-year-old Democrat, is running for Florida House of Representatives District 18 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Kim Kendall, a Republican, is also running for the seat.

Stresing, a first-time candidate, said in our candidate questionnaire: "I've been a public servant for over 11 years working as an attorney at the Public Defender's Office in downtown Jacksonville. This is an opportunity to help more people on a larger scale. I felt like I was on this track before COVID, but my late wife was diagnosed with cancer … I had to make sure my kids were okay and flourishing before I ran for office."

Candidate information

Party: Democrat

Age: 43

Family: "I am the son of a white disabled Navy Veteran and a Filipina immigrant mother. I got remarried to my beautiful African-American wife, Brittney, who is on active duty orders in the U.S. Navy. My late wife is Jamaican, so our kids are half-Jamaican. My son, Banner Logan is 7yrs old. My daughter Phoenix Storm is 10yrs old."

Education: Notre Dame High School; University at Buffalo, 2006; Florida Coastal School of Law, 2010

Family in politics or government: "Nope."

Experience and public service

Asked about his work history, Stresing said in our questionnaire: "I've been an attorney at the Public Defender's Office in downtown Jacksonville for over 11 years. I've handled 6000+ cases and helped thousands of clients get the mental health and addiction help they needed while also helping set innocent people free."

Stresing listed extensive bar and civic committee involvement in our questionnaire. His leadership roles included "Jacksonville Asian-American Bar Association, President: 2014-2018" and chairing the Florida Bar Grievance Committee from 2021 to 2022. He also listed serving as vice chair of the Florida Bar Diversity and Inclusion Committee's Communications Subcommittee from 2023 to 2024 and as "Education Subcommittee: Chair 2026-present" on the Committee on Mental Health and Wellness of Lawyers.

According to his campaign website, Stresing has endorsements from the St. Johns County Democratic Party, the Ponte Vedra Democratic Club, the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida, the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida and several other organizations.

On the issues

What sets him apart: Asked about critical differences between himself and other candidates, Stresing said in our questionnaire: "I am purely grassroots. I don't accept money from lobbyists. I was also a former Republican and Independent where half my friends are Republicans. I work with mostly Republicans where I use these positive relationships to get my clients the best deals possible."

Education funding: Stresing told Jax Today that public schools have been "bled dry" by the state's voucher program. He said he wants to introduce legislation to increase school funding to raise the salaries of public school teachers for better retention and to attract more teachers, while limiting voucher programs to those who truly need them.

Healthcare: Stresing said in a News4JAX voters guide that he supports expanding Medicaid so childless adults and struggling families are covered and not bankrupted by medical expenses.

Veterans services: Stresing told News4JAX he wants more funding for programs and organizations whose sole missions are to help veterans who are disabled, retired or simply trying to transition into civilian life.

Qualifications: Asked what accomplishments show he can handle the job, Stresing said in our questionnaire: "Working full time as a Public Defender while being a caregiver to my cancer-stricken, immunocompromised wife during a pandemic while raising two kids … having to deal with being a single widower while also working full-time and raising my grieving kids … everything after that experience has been a piece of cake."