Florida House District 81 Race Draws Democratic Challenger Finer

Republican incumbent Yvette Benarroch faces a Democratic challenge from newcomer Kim Finer for the Florida House District 81 seat. The upcoming general election on November 3, 2026, sets up a decisive layout for control over the coastal Collier County district, which spans from Naples Park south to Marco Island.

State Rep. Yvette Benarroch is facing a Democratic challenger in the Nov. 3 general election for House seat 81.

The Republican from Marco Island who was first elected in 2024 will face newcomer Kim Finer, a Democrat.

The District 81 seat in the Florida House encompasses coastal Collier from Naples Park all the way south to Isles of Capri, Marco Island and Goodland. It is bordered on the east by Collier Boulevard/County Road 951.

What to know about the incumbent

Benarroch is a U.S. Air Force veteran who served during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

She is the co-owner of Affordable Landscaping Service & Design, LLC, a full-service landscaping company serving Naples and Marco Island. She is a licensed Realtor​. Benarroch says her conservative values and the love and gratitude she has for the U.S. encouraged her to become more involved in politics.

She served as vice chairwoman of the Collier County GOP from 2020–2022, was past state vice chairwoman for the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Florida, and past 2nd vice president for the Florida Federation of Republican Women.​

She lives in Marco Island with her husband and two teenage sons. She has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and a master’s degree in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University.

Her campaign website is yvetteforflorida.com.

Finer is from Canton Ohio. She earned a bachelor of arts in microbiology from Miami University in Ohio, a Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology from Texas A&M University, and a postdoctoral fellowship in food microbiology at N.C. State University.

She was a professor of biological sciences at Kent State University for the bulk of her career. She moved to Florida in 2012 and serves as president of the Friends of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.

She is a member of the American Society for Microbiology, a professional organization in which she held a variety of leadership positions. Additional national memberships include the League of Women Voters, ACLU and AARP.

She supports area organizations such as the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Naples Botanical Garden, the Florida Native Plant Society (Coccolobia/Naples).

Her campaign website is kimfinerforflorida.com.

Future Outlook

The race for District 81 will test the political waters of coastal Collier County as the November 2026 election approaches. Observers note that the matchup contrasts Benarroch’s deep military background and localized business roots against Finer’s extensive scientific career and local environmental advocacy. As demographic patterns shift across southern Florida, campaign efforts are expected to intensify across major coastal communities like Marco Island and Naples Park.

FAQs

Who are the candidates running for Florida House District 81?

The candidates running for the seat are the Republican incumbent Yvette Benarroch and the Democratic newcomer Kim Finer.

What geographic areas are included in Florida House District 81?

The district covers coastal Collier County, reaching from Naples Park south to Isles of Capri, Marco Island, and Goodland, bounded by Collier Boulevard on the east.

When was Yvette Benarroch first elected to office?

Representative Yvette Benarroch was first elected to represent District 81 in 2024.

What is the background of challenger Kim Finer?

Kim Finer is a former professor of biological sciences at Kent State University with a Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology, who currently serves as president of the Friends of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.

When will the general election for this seat take place?

The general election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026.