Name: Laura Levites
Campaign Website: votelauralevites.com
Date, place of birth: 9/10/74 Manhasset, NY
Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts, New York University
Occupation: Writer
Work History for the past 15 years:
Comedian, writer, director, producer. Performing on stages all over the world, Edinburgh comedy festival, comedy central, misc acting gigs. After I took a break from comedy about 5 years go, I’ve been part of the gig economy. I have been a personal assistant, house aid, dog walker, ghost writer.
Why are you running, and what specifically makes you the better candidate?
I’m running because it’s either run for office, or leave Florida and I refuse to give up on my home. I’m running because I’m done feeling powerless and I know I’m not alone. I live the same struggles as my neighbors: I can’t afford new windows to meet my insurance requirements, my 85 year old mother is struggling to pay HOA fees on a fixed income, friends are leaving the state just to have their babies and Floridians face the highest car and homeowners insurance premiums in the country. Florida has become emotionally draining and increasingly unaffordable. I’m running because the system is broken, and District 87 deserves a representative who fights for the people.
What makes me the better Candidate? I think like an outsider. I’m not the status quo or a career politician, I’m your neighbor. I’m creative, original and I know how to break through the noise. I am a comedian who has performed at Carnegie Hall and Radio City, which means I know how to connect, listen and call out nonsense when people are tired of it being dressed up as “leadership.” I’ve lived abroad, traveled the world, and was raised both in New York and Florida, and I have watched Florida’s transformation from dirt roads to skyscrapers.
I believe we all want to feel safe, which is why I created the S.A.F.E plan: Smart, Affordable, Flood Resilient, Economy.
Emily Gregory represents the establishment, endorsed by the same institutions and leaders that oversaw these failures. She’s the safe, party approved option manufactured by groups that dictate what she says. She will manage the system; I’ll challenge it. I’m running to flip the table and rebuild it, because what we have now is not working. District 87 needs bold change. I’m the future.
Describe one action you would support that would reduce property insurance premiums in Florida.
One action that I would support immediately is creating a state backed insurance fraud enforcement unit with real teeth. Funded and mandated to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraudulent roofing claims, inflated litigation and bad actors that are driving premiums up for everyone. Right now honest homeowners are paying for a system that allows fraud and excessive litigation to go unchecked. That’s not a market, that’s a scam tax. Insurance reform only works if it protects consumers, not just insurance companies, and accountability is the fastest way to lower costs.
The Legislature in 2026 will consider several property tax reduction proposals. One would eliminate property taxes on all homesteaded properties. Would you support or oppose this and why?
I would oppose eliminating property taxes on all homesteaded properties, not because people aren’t hurting but is something that sounds good but makes things worse. Property taxes fund the services people rely on everyday: schools, fire rescue, police, flood and local infrastructure. Eliminating them without a guaranteed replacement blows a massive hole in local budgets and shifts the burden somewhere else, usually onto renters, fees, sales taxes or cuts to services.
That’s not relief. That’s cost shifting.
The Legislature in 2026 will consider a bill (HB 133) allowing 18-year-olds to buy rifles and shotguns. The age was raised from 18 to 21 after the Parkland shooting. Would you vote for or against this bill and why?
I would vote against HB133. We learned a hard lesson after parkland, access matters and age limits save lives. Rolling that back ignores the evidence, the intent of the law, and the families who demanded change after tragedy. We don’t let 18 year olds buy alcohol and we shouldn’t make it easier for teenagers to access lethal weapons in a state that continues to struggle with gun violence and mental health gaps. I support responsible gun ownership, but responsibility means safeguards weakening them is not freedom its failure.
Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo support eliminating all childhood vaccine mandates in Florida. Do you agree or disagree and why?
I’d strongly disagree. While I respect parental rights and believe in personal freedoms, public health mandates like these are proven, science based tools that protect our kids, schools, communities from preventable diseases. Why I’d oppose. Vaccines save lives and prevent outbreaks. Mandates for shots against Hepatitis B, chickenpox, meningitis and pneumonia have eradicated or controlled deadly illness in all 50 states. Growing up my mom’s best friend Judy Leider walked with a cane because as a girl she had polio. If she only had the polio vaccine, she would have probably been able to walk properly. Mandates aren’t “slavery” they are community protection. Florida already allows medical and religious exemptions, full elimination goes too far, prioritizing ideology over evidence. Outbreaks are bad for the economy and bad for our neighborhoods.
Do you support or oppose an effort to redraw boundaries for Florida congressional districts in 2026, and why?
No. While I believe in fair representation and adjusting maps when truly necessary, (like after a census or court order) the mid decade push feels more like partisan manuring than a genuine need especially with the 2022 maps already upheld by the Florida Supreme Court. It’s unnecessary and risks gerrymandering. We need maps that reflect real neighborhoods, not ones redrawn for political advantage. Instead of wasting time and money on this it would be nice if our elected official focused on real priorities like, tax relief, affordable housing, flood resilience and healthcare.
House District 87 hugs the coastline. How will you support climate change adaptation in the multiple coastal municipalities in your district?
First, the coastal municipalities need to have coordinated resilience planning, as it stands now they do not. I know this because I have attended every commission meeting and they all share the same problems and they do not communicate. There is no binding regional authority that ensures coastal cities in district 87 plan, build, and fund adaptation projects together. The costal roads get flooded, and traffic breaks loose. I’d file a bill to create a South Palm Beach Coastal Resilience Compact, it would require coordinated resilience planning, it would create a dedicated state resilience funding stream and would mandate measurable outcomes, not just plans for reduced flood days, lower repetitive loss claims and infrastructure that actually lowers insurance risk, backed by real funding and accountability. Flooding is regional our response has to be too.
I’d fight to secure state and federal funding. I’d advocate for expanded grants for the Resilient Florida Program, and push for more funding for District 87-specific needs, like elevating roads, improving stormwater systems, and hardening utilities. I’d look at what other states and countries are doing, we are already doing some mitigating but nothing is going to stop mother nature and we need to be pro active in our approach. Lets adapt our coast Smartly
The Legislature in recent years has added many new exemptions to the public records law to keep information secret, such as for state university presidential searches. Would you have voted for or against this bill and why?
As a centrist Democrat, I’d vote against the 2022 bill (SB 520). Floridas Sunshine Law is a cornerstone of good governance, ensuring transparency in how public institutions like our universities operate, and exemptions like this erode public trust without significant justification. It prioritizes secrecy over accountability, it’s unnecessary for attracting talent and better alternatives exist. I’m committed to fighting unnecessary secrecy while respecting legitimate needs like protecting victims or trade secrets. Bottom line, hiding stuff feels sketchy.
Describe in detail one economic, social or demographic factor about your district that sets it apart from all others.
One economic factor that truly sets Florida House 87 apart from every other state district is the Port of Palm Beach. No other house district boasts a public seaport with this unique blend of cargo, diversity, efficiency and economic impact.
As the smaller of Florida’s 16 public seaports by size, it punches far above its weight: handling over 2.8 million tons of cargo annually with a trade value exceeding $14 billion. From sugar, molasses, cement, and petroleum to fresh tropical fruits like pineapples imported from Central America and exports to the Caribbean, the port positions Florida as a vital gateway for international trade.
It directly employs about 3,500 people in roles from dockworkers to logistics experts, while indirectly supporting thousands more through trucking, warehousing, and supply chains. This generates roughly $260 million in annual business revenue and provides essential blue collar jobs that balance the district’s mix of affluent coastal residents and working class communities especially vital in an area with a median household income of $92,000 ( well above the states $72,000 average).
The port also delivers fiscal firepower: over $12 million in state and federal taxes yearly, plus a record breaking $27 million in gross revenue in FY 2024 – the highest in over two decades. This funds critical local infrastructure, including road upgrades and flood resilience in our vulnerable coastal zone.
By easing congestion at larger ports and offering a competitive edge for agriculture and manufacturing exporters, the Port of Palm Beach drives unmatched growth, jobs and revenue. It’s not just an asset, it’s the defining economic engine that makes District 87 unique and irreplaceable.
Have you been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime, had an adjudication withheld or had a matter sealed or expunged? If yes, please explain.
No
Have you been a plaintiff or defendant in a civil action, including bankruptcy or foreclosure, or had a restraining order issued against you? If so, please explain.
No
