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Kristen Arrington

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Kristen Arrington
Image of Kristen Arrington
Florida State Senate District 25
Tenure

2024 - Present

Term ends

2028

Years in position

0

Predecessor
Prior offices
Florida House of Representatives District 43
Successor: Johanna López
Predecessor: John Cortes

Florida House of Representatives District 46
Successor: Jose Alvarez
Predecessor: Travaris McCurdy

Compensation

Base salary

$29,697/year

Per diem

$175/day for a maximum of 60 days. Members can also receive per diem outside of the session.

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Osceola High School

Associate

Valencia College

Personal
Birthplace
Holiday, Fla.
Religion
Christian
Profession
Business owner
Contact

Kristen Arrington (Democratic Party) is a member of the Florida State Senate, representing District 25. She assumed office on November 5, 2024. Her current term ends on November 7, 2028.

Arrington (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Florida State Senate to represent District 25. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Kristen Arrington was born in Holiday, Florida, and lives in Kissimmee, Florida. She earned a high school diploma from Osceola High School and an associate degree from Valencia College. Her career experience includes owning a business. Arrington served on the board of the Central Florida Foundation and Kissimmee Main Street.[1][2][3]

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Arrington was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Arrington was assigned to the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2024

See also: Florida State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Florida State Senate District 25

Kristen Arrington defeated Jose A. Martinez in the general election for Florida State Senate District 25 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kristen Arrington
Kristen Arrington (D)
 
51.5
 
113,095
Image of Jose A. Martinez
Jose A. Martinez (R) Candidate Connection
 
48.5
 
106,596

Total votes: 219,691
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Florida State Senate District 25

Kristen Arrington defeated Carmen Torres and Alan Grayson in the Democratic primary for Florida State Senate District 25 on August 20, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kristen Arrington
Kristen Arrington
 
50.5
 
11,162
Image of Carmen Torres
Carmen Torres Candidate Connection
 
25.6
 
5,651
Image of Alan Grayson
Alan Grayson
 
23.9
 
5,279

Total votes: 22,092
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Florida State Senate District 25

Jose A. Martinez defeated Jon Arguello in the Republican primary for Florida State Senate District 25 on August 20, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jose A. Martinez
Jose A. Martinez Candidate Connection
 
59.4
 
10,006
Jon Arguello Candidate Connection
 
40.6
 
6,852

Total votes: 16,858
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Campaign finance

Endorsements

Arrington received the following endorsements.

2022

See also: Florida House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Florida House of Representatives District 46

Incumbent Kristen Arrington defeated Christian De La Torre and Ivan Rivera in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 46 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kristen Arrington
Kristen Arrington (D) Candidate Connection
 
58.3
 
20,146
Image of Christian De La Torre
Christian De La Torre (R) Candidate Connection
 
38.7
 
13,393
Ivan Rivera (No Party Affiliation)
 
3.0
 
1,026

Total votes: 34,565
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Kristen Arrington advanced from the Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 46.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Christian De La Torre advanced from the Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 46.

Campaign finance

2020

See also: Florida House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

The general election was canceled. Kristen Arrington won election in the general election for Florida House of Representatives District 43.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 43

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 43 on August 18, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kristen Arrington
Kristen Arrington Candidate Connection
 
31.5
 
7,367
Image of Alex Barrio
Alex Barrio
 
21.4
 
5,006
Image of Tamika Lyles
Tamika Lyles Candidate Connection
 
16.4
 
3,838
Image of Carlos Irizarry
Carlos Irizarry
 
11.4
 
2,666
Image of Andrew Jeng
Andrew Jeng Candidate Connection
 
11.3
 
2,643
Image of Ricardo Rangel
Ricardo Rangel
 
8.0
 
1,880

Total votes: 23,400
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kristen Arrington did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Candidate Connection

Kristen Arrington completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Arrington's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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State Representative Kristen Arrington is a champion for the people of Osceola County. A determined problem solver and tireless advocate for Osceola’s hard-working families. Kristen is focused on fighting for the needs of Kissimmee residents, by increasing funding for education, improving our transportation network, providing more affordable housing opportunities, and securing higher wages for workers.


Kristen has called Kissimmee her hometown since the age of three. From taking her first dance lessons at a little Downtown studio, to attending Osceola High School where she met her husband on the first day of school, to now owning her own business and giving back to her community, her roots go deep in Kissimmee and Osceola County.


Kristen’s devotion to strengthening our small business community has been shaped by her professional background where she’s worked as a Realtor, Property Manager, and in the Transportation industry.

In addition to her passion for politics, Kristen is devoted to giving back to her hometown. She delivers weekly Meals on Wheels to our local senior citizens, which has sometimes been the only human interaction they have during the COVID shutdown. Kristen helps raise funds and volunteers for numerous local non-profits, including causes supporting animal welfare.

  • Affordable Housing--attainable housing
  • Our environment, particularly our waterways. Addressing our hydrilla problem in Lake Toho and long term solutions to remove and keep out.
  • Education--more funding for public schools and teachers and more opportunities that are not traditional 4 year universities to provide careers.
I am passionate especially about Affordable Housing and Transportation and serve on the Infrastructure and Tourism Appropriations Committee in the Florida House.

I have helped secure funding for a hotel/motel conversion to affordable housing for our community. I think this is a great solution to the folks living in hotels paying expensive weekly rates and for our affordable housing crisis. This product is throughout Florida and can provide a quick solution during a time when labor is hard to find and there are supply chain issues.
My dance Teacher. She taught me to make a goal and then keep working until I achieve it. Her motto was "no pain, no gain" She also has a heart of gold and would always be giving away free lessons to talented or driven children that were unable to afford it.
I love my hometown and truly feel every decision is based on what is best for my district and what the residents of my district want. I am a problem solver and enjoy trying to find solutions by working with others.
The Golden Rule-- do unto others as you would have them do onto you.
I worked for my parents cleaning business growing up age 9-17 cleaning office buildings and restaurants.
Anything by Lee Childs or Anthony Baldacci for fiction. The Four Agreements.
My Father's unexpected death and having multiple miscarriages are some of my most challenging days.
Balance of power. Currently we have a Republican Governor, Republican Legislature .
Yes, absolutely. There are 120 members in the Florida House, you cannot do anything alone. Additionally, being a Democrat I have to be able to work across the aisle and have relationships with the other party to accomplish items.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Candidate Connection

Kristen Arrington completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Arrington's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Kristen Arrington has called Kissimmee her hometown ever since the age of three when her father became the City of Kissimmee's Finance Director. Osceola County has served as the backdrop of some of her greatest memories, from taking her first dance lessons in Downtown Kissimmee, to attending Osceola High School where she met her husband on the first day of school, to now owning her own business and giving back to her community.

Kristen's business perspective has been shaped by her professional background where she's worked as a Realtor, Property Manager, and in the Transportation industry. Today she's a small business owner of a marketing and consulting firm with 15 years' experience. Her passion for politics and community service have led her to assist or manage more than 10 of Osceola's elected officials to get elected or re-elected. She knows how to win.

In addition to her passion for politics, Kristen is devoted to giving back to her hometown. Weekly she delivers Meals on Wheels to our local senior citizens, which has sometimes been the only human interaction they have during the COVID shut-down. Kristen helps raise funds and volunteers for numerous non-profits in our community, including causes supporting animal welfare. Kristen's experience and understanding of the issues facing our families and businesses makes her the clear choice to fight for us in Tallahassee. She will put all her energy forward to helping to solve issues across the state.
  • Education: Osceola schools currently receive far less money than other School Districts across the state. Our children are just as important as kids in wealthier communities! I will fight for fair and adequate funding for all Osceola school children. We also need to elevate/revitalize teaching so that it's once again a sought-after occupation. I think now more than ever we all must appreciate the job educators do on a daily basis and reward them for it. By addressing the issues created by the school funding model, we can work to recruit and retain the best teachers and keep them educating our kids.
  • High-Wage Jobs: We need to bring high-paying jobs to our community. That is why it is important that the State of Florida support and invest in NeoCity, which is right in our back yard. Our County government has taken the lead in championing the creation of high-tech high-wage jobs here at home, and with increased investment from our state we can create opportunities in the economy of tomorrow here for local residents, our kids, and future generations to come.
  • Transportation: Transportation I will push for the expansion of SunRail service to nights and weekends and for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to pick up the tab. I will support the expansion of High-Speed Rail from Miami to Orlando and then on to Tampa. We have to continue to look for ways to move more people with a reduced carbon footprint. We must work with Central Florida Expressway Authority to begin to make our expressways a means for mass transit by Bus Rapid Transit and other options. We need to be able to transfer our goods and workers easily throughout the state to increase our economic opportunities.
COVID-19 Recovery, Jobs & Our Economy, Education, Transportation and Our Water in Osceola County!

Whether it is the water we drink from the faucet or the lakes swim in, water plays an important part of our daily life in communities across District 43. Our state needs to do a better job protecting and purifying our waterways. Unfortunately, as the head water area of the Everglades- Osceola often gets overlooked when it comes to funding and grant opportunities. I will fight to ensure District 43 receives funding for projects to clean and protect our water ways. We must also work to restore funding to control hydrilla growth so our lakes can be navigated safely and our ecosystem isn't clogged.
I look up to people that I personally know and that I have seen in real life experiences. I admire my previous teachers in school and dance class, and the lessons they taught me and the example they set.
I really can't think of one that relates my political philosophy. However, I love the book The Four Agreements and it's principles and try to follow them.
My guiding principle is the golden rule. Do onto others as you would have them do onto you. I think if we all followed this motto the world would be a much better place and we would empathize and put ourselves in other's shoes more.
The Challenger Space Shuttle exploding. I was elementary school and we all stopped classwork to go outside to watch the space shuttle-a regular occurrence for Central Florida students. However, we knew something went wrong and we were hurried back into our classrooms. Our teacher had to explain to us what happened. In the week that followed we wrote cards to the astronaut members families. It was also eventful to our school and our teachers since Christa McAuliffe was the first teacher to travel to space.
My very first job was working for my parents janitorial business. My parents owned their own business and I would clean with my Mother on the weekends to help pay for my dance classes. I did that from 10-17 years old.
Anything by David Baldacci, because his story telling is superb and I am able to be absorbed. Additionally, he usually tells an interesting story that has a different twist.
I think that it can be a benefit, to provide some background and knowledge before serving. This can make it easier for the candidate once elected to hit the ground running.
Our recovery from COVID-19 and what that means to our community whether it be our housing market, unemployment and our tourism community in Central Florida.
Yes. To get things accomplished and be effective as a legislator you will need to get the support of other legislators. You are unable to sponsor and pass a bill on your own.
I would love to be a part of Education, Transportation or Tourism committees. These are all very important and vital to my local community and I want to be able to represent Kissimmee so we can get our fair share.
I have been overwhelmed with support from people in my district that have known me most of my life. My first donation was from my gymnastics coach, who first met me at the age of six and has known me throughout my life. My first sign location was in the yard of my first friend I met when I moved to Kissimmee at the age of three. My cheerleading coach from high school just messaged me today that she voted for me. I love my hometown and district 43, and it would be my honor to represent them in Tallahassee.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Kristen Arrington campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Florida State Senate District 25Won general$381,446 $278,160
2022Florida House of Representatives District 46Won general$146,507 $144,636
2020Florida House of Representatives District 43Won general$43,329 N/A**
Grand total$571,283 $422,796
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Florida

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Florida scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.


2024


2023


2022


2021






See also


External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
Victor Torres (D)
Florida State Senate District 25
2024-Present
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
Travaris McCurdy (D)
Florida House of Representatives District 46
2022-2024
Succeeded by
Jose Alvarez (D)
Preceded by
John Cortes (D)
Florida House of Representatives District 43
2020-2022
Succeeded by
Johanna López (D)


Current members of the Florida State Senate
Leadership
Senate President:Ben Albritton
Majority Leader:Jim Boyd
Senators
District 1
Don Gaetz (R)
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
Tom Leek (R)
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
Vacant
District 12
District 13
District 14
Vacant
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
Jim Boyd (R)
District 21
Ed Hooper (R)
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
Republican Party (26)
Democratic Party (11)
No Party Affiliation (1)
Vacancies (2)