Nick Pachota

Nick Pachota is the Republican candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, District 74, in the November 3, 2026 general election, where he faces Democrat Ryan Neill; there is no incumbent in the race.[1][2] Pachota, a firefighter and paramedic, won the August 18, 2026 Republican primary with 34.8 percent of the vote, and his campaign biography says he is the mayor of Venice.[2][3]

Nick Pachota graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School and earned an associate degree from Valencia College in 2007, according to Ballotpedia, and his career experience includes working as a firefighter and paramedic.[2] In a Ballotpedia survey, his campaign described him as a 25-year first responder and small business owner who worked as an EMT, paramedic, firefighter and SWAT medic, and as a co-owner of the Venice Pier Group.[3] The survey also says he has been an adjunct instructor in Sarasota County Public Schools' emergency medical services education program for over a decade.[3]

Pachota defeated Kelly Ann Walker, Jennifer Winkler and Carlton Nichols in the 2026 Republican primary.[2] In his survey responses, he named affordability, including lower insurance premiums and property taxes, protecting constitutional freedoms, and public safety and workforce development as key campaign messages.[3] Ballotpedia lists endorsements from State Rep. James Buchanan, the Florida Police Benevolent Association and Florida Realtors PAC, among others.[2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.