Politics
Meg Weinberger heads to Election Day with commanding edges over 2 challengers in HD 94
A teacher and a hotel executive are trying to make Republican state Rep. Meg Weinberger’s first House term her last, but she holds ample advantages that make supplanting her a tall order.
Weinberger, a nonprofit executive, faces challenges from Democrat Elizabeth Holmes and no-party candidate Doug Barrow in House District 94.
Republicans hold a sizable registration edge in the district, and Weinberger’s fundraising far exceeds her opponents’ combined hauls.
HD 94 covers a broad, largely agricultural stretch of western Palm Beach County, including all or portions of Belle Glade, Pahokee, Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, South Bay and Westlake.
Republicans account for roughly 39% of registered voters, compared with nearly 33% Democrats and 29% third- and no-party voters, according to the Division of Elections.
Census data shows the population is 49% non-Hispanic White, 23% Hispanic and 20% Black. Multiracial residents account for another 4%, while 3% are Asian.
Median household income is $90,538, and 10.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
Weinberger, 54, runs Rescue Life, an animal sanctuary and adoption organization. She has also served on numerous community boards.
She entered electoral politics in 2024, winning 55% of the vote in the General Election to succeed term-limited Republican Rick Roth, who is now running for Senate District 26.
The District Lead for the Palm Beach County chapter of Moms for Liberty, Weinberger built her first campaign around a close alignment with Donald Trump, earning the nickname “MAGA Meg” from the support she received from people in the President’s orbit.
During her first term, she passed a law creating a searchable database of convicted animal abusers, along with measures addressing child welfare and establishing annual awareness days for autism and autoimmune disease.
She also passed legislation replacing references to the Gulf of Mexico with “Gulf of America” in state law, renaming Palm Beach International Airport for Trump and designating South Florida roads in honor of Trump and slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
For a second term, Weinberger is promising to pursue lower taxes, fewer regulations and relief from rising living costs. Her priorities also include agriculture, law enforcement, abortion restrictions, education, election integrity, water protection, immigration enforcement and government accountability.
Her endorsers this cycle include Trump, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Byron Donalds and Brian Mast, as well as U.S. Rep. Brian Jack of Georgia.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is also backing her, as are the entire Belle Glade City Commission, South Bay Mayor Joe Kyles and the South Bay Commission.
Organizational supporters include the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Associated Industries of Florida, Florida Medical Association PAC, Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, multiple firefighter groups and the NRA Political Victory Fund.
Holmes, who turns 42 on Oct. 31, teaches English and exceptional student education in public schools.
She’s campaigning on reducing household costs, strengthening public education and giving residents more influence over government decisions. She also wants protections against data centers and overdevelopment, arguing for safeguards for both communities and the environment.
Her supporters include retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, a federal whistleblower and former U.S. Senate candidate, along with SEIU Florida, the Florida AFL-CIO, Palm Beach-Treasure Coast AFL-CIO, Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association, Moms Fed Up, WIN Now, Florida High School Democrats, Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, Emgage, Palm Beach County Human Rights Council and Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida.
Holmes has faced scrutiny in recent weeks over a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office-documented incident in 2008 in which she allegedly threw a soda at a man and later texted him an anti-gay slur. The man declined to pursue prosecution, and no charges were filed.
Separately, Holmes drew criticism for offering students community service hours for sharing her campaign’s Facebook posts. The School District’s Office of Professional Standards opened a file on the matter, but closed it without finding a violation.
Barrow, 51, is the founder, President and CEO of HP Hospitality Group, a boutique hotel management and investment business. He previously served as Director of the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association’s political committee.
He’s running without party affiliation, though voter records show he was registered as a Republican until around 2024.
Barrow shares several priorities with Holmes, including higher teacher pay, stronger support for public schools and opposition to data centers. He also wants to protect the district’s rural character and ensure public safety agencies have adequate resources.
His housing agenda emphasizes making homes more affordable rather than building additional “affordable” housing. He also proposes insurance rate caps, changes to deductibles and longer-term plans for Florida ratepayers.
The financial gap between the incumbent and her challengers is massive.
Since winning office, Weinberger has raised more than $675,000 between her campaign account and political committee. She has also received nearly $140,000 in in-kind assistance, much of it from the Republican Party, to cover campaign expenses.
With less than a month before Election Day, she had about $181,000 remaining.
Holmes, meanwhile, raised roughly $37,500 between filing in April and Oct. 2, with about $10,000 left.
Barrow amassed nearly $16,500, almost half of it from his bank account, and had roughly $7,500 remaining by Oct. 2.
Election Day is Nov. 3.
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