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Republican · Florida House, district 82

Serving since Nov 8, 2022FL 2025–26 session

Portrait of Lauren Melo, rendered as a two-tone print
Official portrait
83%
of sponsored bills got out of committee, in the top tenth of the Florida House

83% of 18 sponsored bills got out of committee; the average for the Florida House is 56%. Ranks 12th of 110, where 1st is the highest share.

The share of bills Melo sponsored that a committee reported out or a chamber passed, ranked within the Florida House. Members of the majority party and committee chairs move more bills, so the rank reflects position as well as effort.

At a glance

6 measures against State House Republicans. Melo reported $213.0K in the 2026 cycle, in the top tenth of State House Republicans (median $33.7K). The policy areas Melo talks about and legislates on agree at 0.41 on a 0–1 scale, in the bottom quarter of State House Republicans.

The measures on which Melo sits furthest from the middle of State House Republicans, each against the same group, with the CSIP score when there is one. Every number is explained in its own section below.

Out of committee

83%

Florida House average 56% · ranks 12th of 110

Itemized, 2026

$213.0K

State House Republicans’ median $33.7K · ranks 238th of 2,521

Talk-to-bills agreement

0.41

State House Republicans average 0.53 · ranks 436th of 504

Personal attacks

0%

State House Republicans average 2.9% · ranks 642nd of 791

Policy discussion

47%

State House Republicans average 32% · ranks 176th of 791

CSIP ideology

+0.38

Right of 0, the centre of the scale · ± 0.05

Peer group: State House Republicans. Rank 1 is the highest value in the group; the thick bar is Melo, the thin grey bar the peer average. The headline is the measure on which Melo is most unusual among peers (Methods, §08).

Back to topNext: What politicians say

What Melo says

Melo attacks opponents personally less than 81% of State House Republicans. Personal attacks in 0% of 208 statements, against 2.9% for the average State House Republican; 642nd of 791.

An AI model reads each of Melo’s 208 statements in the FL 2025–26 session (208 posts on X) and marks the kinds of statement it contains: a personal attack, criticism of a policy, discussion of policy, bipartisanship, credit claiming, and extreme labels. A statement can carry several. Every rate is compared with the average for State House Republicans and ranked among them.

Kinds of statement

Share of statements carrying each label, the FL 2025–26 session

0%80%
Melo
Peers
Rank
Policy discussion97 statements
47%
32%
176th of 791
Credit claiming41 statements
20%
13%
181st of 791
Policy criticism5 statements
2%
9%
571st of 791
Bipartisanship4 statements
2%
2%
266th of 791
Personal attacks0 statements
0%
3%
642nd of 791
Show the data
Melo's share of statements in each category against the State House Republicans average.
RowMeloPeers
Policy discussion47%32%
Credit claiming20%13%
Policy criticism2%9%
Bipartisanship2%2%
Personal attacks0%3%
208

statements classified

208 posts on X.

posts on X: 208 (100.0%)posts on X 208
Show the data
Melo's statements by source
PartValue
posts on X208
How to read the bars

The thick bar is Melo; the thin grey bar is the average State House Republicans. A longer thick bar means Melo does this more than peers. Rank 1 is the highest rate in the group.

Extreme labels

Melo used extreme labels in 0.5% of statements, 33% of the peer average. 1 statement; peers 1.4%.

    Who gets the labels

    Targets named alongside an extreme label, by number of statements

    No targets recorded.

    What an extreme label is

    Calls a politician, a party or a policy “far left”, “far right”, “MAGA”, “extreme”, “radical”, “woke”, “fascist” or “communist”. The target is who or what the label was aimed at. The lists show the five most used labels and targets; the toggle shows the rest.

    Month by month

    Share of statements per month, the FL 2025–26 session

    Statements2025-01: 172025-02: 62025-03: 92025-04: 42025-05: 22025-06: 12025-07: 02025-08: 52025-09: 112025-10: 112025-11: 112025-12: 82026-01: 102026-02: 82026-03: 122026-04: 162026-05: 132026-06: 122026-07: 112026-08: 182026-09: 122026-10: 11peak 18 · Aug ’26Personal attackspeak 0.0% · Jan ’25 · latest 0.0%Personal attacks, 2025-01: 0.0% of 17Personal attacks, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-09: 0.0% of 11Personal attacks, 2025-10: 0.0% of 11Personal attacks, 2025-11: 0.0% of 11Personal attacks, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-01: 0.0% of 10Personal attacks, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-03: 0.0% of 12Personal attacks, 2026-04: 0.0% of 16Personal attacks, 2026-05: 0.0% of 13Personal attacks, 2026-06: 0.0% of 12Personal attacks, 2026-07: 0.0% of 11Personal attacks, 2026-08: 0.0% of 18Personal attacks, 2026-09: 0.0% of 12Personal attacks, 2026-10: 0.0% of 11Policy criticismpeak 10.0% · Jan ’26 · latest 0.0%Policy criticism, 2025-01: 5.9% of 17Policy criticism, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-09: 0.0% of 11Policy criticism, 2025-10: 0.0% of 11Policy criticism, 2025-11: 0.0% of 11Policy criticism, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-01: 10.0% of 10Policy criticism, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-03: 8.3% of 12Policy criticism, 2026-04: 0.0% of 16Policy criticism, 2026-05: 0.0% of 13Policy criticism, 2026-06: 0.0% of 12Policy criticism, 2026-07: 0.0% of 11Policy criticism, 2026-08: 0.0% of 18Policy criticism, 2026-09: 0.0% of 12Policy criticism, 2026-10: 0.0% of 11Policy discussionpeak 83.3% · Sep ’26 · latest 81.8%Policy discussion, 2025-01: 35.3% of 17Policy discussion, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-09: 27.3% of 11Policy discussion, 2025-10: 36.4% of 11Policy discussion, 2025-11: 9.1% of 11Policy discussion, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-01: 60.0% of 10Policy discussion, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-03: 33.3% of 12Policy discussion, 2026-04: 50.0% of 16Policy discussion, 2026-05: 53.8% of 13Policy discussion, 2026-06: 33.3% of 12Policy discussion, 2026-07: 63.6% of 11Policy discussion, 2026-08: 77.8% of 18Policy discussion, 2026-09: 83.3% of 12Policy discussion, 2026-10: 81.8% of 11Bipartisanshippeak 18.2% · Nov ’25 · latest 0.0%Bipartisanship, 2025-01: 5.9% of 17Bipartisanship, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-09: 0.0% of 11Bipartisanship, 2025-10: 0.0% of 11Bipartisanship, 2025-11: 18.2% of 11Bipartisanship, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-01: 0.0% of 10Bipartisanship, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-03: 0.0% of 12Bipartisanship, 2026-04: 0.0% of 16Bipartisanship, 2026-05: 0.0% of 13Bipartisanship, 2026-06: 8.3% of 12Bipartisanship, 2026-07: 0.0% of 11Bipartisanship, 2026-08: 0.0% of 18Bipartisanship, 2026-09: 0.0% of 12Bipartisanship, 2026-10: 0.0% of 11Credit claimingpeak 63.6% · Jul ’26 · latest 9.1%Credit claiming, 2025-01: 29.4% of 17Credit claiming, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-09: 27.3% of 11Credit claiming, 2025-10: 9.1% of 11Credit claiming, 2025-11: 9.1% of 11Credit claiming, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-01: 0.0% of 10Credit claiming, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-03: 8.3% of 12Credit claiming, 2026-04: 18.8% of 16Credit claiming, 2026-05: 0.0% of 13Credit claiming, 2026-06: 33.3% of 12Credit claiming, 2026-07: 63.6% of 11Credit claiming, 2026-08: 22.2% of 18Credit claiming, 2026-09: 0.0% of 12Credit claiming, 2026-10: 9.1% of 11Extreme labelspeak 5.9% · Jan ’25 · latest 0.0%Extreme labels, 2025-01: 5.9% of 17Extreme labels, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-09: 0.0% of 11Extreme labels, 2025-10: 0.0% of 11Extreme labels, 2025-11: 0.0% of 11Extreme labels, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-01: 0.0% of 10Extreme labels, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-03: 0.0% of 12Extreme labels, 2026-04: 0.0% of 16Extreme labels, 2026-05: 0.0% of 13Extreme labels, 2026-06: 0.0% of 12Extreme labels, 2026-07: 0.0% of 11Extreme labels, 2026-08: 0.0% of 18Extreme labels, 2026-09: 0.0% of 12Extreme labels, 2026-10: 0.0% of 11Jan ’25Jul ’25Jan ’26Jul ’26Oct ’26
    Show the data
    Monthly rates for Melo, each row shaded against its own peak, with statement volume. Months with fewer than 10 statements are left blank.
    ColumnStatementsPersonal attacksPolicy criticismPolicy discussionBipartisanshipCredit claimingExtreme labels
    Jan ’25170.0%5.9%35.3%5.9%29.4%5.9%
    Feb ’256— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
    Mar ’259— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
    Apr ’254— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
    May ’252— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
    Jun ’251— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
    Jul ’250— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
    Aug ’255— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
    Sep ’25110.0%0.0%27.3%0.0%27.3%0.0%
    Oct ’25110.0%0.0%36.4%0.0%9.1%0.0%
    Nov ’25110.0%0.0%9.1%18.2%9.1%0.0%
    Dec ’258— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
    Jan ’26100.0%10.0%60.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
    Feb ’268— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
    Mar ’26120.0%8.3%33.3%0.0%8.3%0.0%
    Apr ’26160.0%0.0%50.0%0.0%18.8%0.0%
    May ’26130.0%0.0%53.8%0.0%0.0%0.0%
    Jun ’26120.0%0.0%33.3%8.3%33.3%0.0%
    Jul ’26110.0%0.0%63.6%0.0%63.6%0.0%
    Aug ’26180.0%0.0%77.8%0.0%22.2%0.0%
    Sep ’26120.0%0.0%83.3%0.0%0.0%0.0%
    Oct ’26110.0%0.0%81.8%0.0%9.1%0.0%
    How to read the strips

    Each row is one kind of statement; each cell is a month, shaded against that row’s own peak (darker = closer to the peak), with the peak and the latest value written at the right. The top row counts statements. The strip covers every month of the FL 2025–26 session, the same span as the rates above, including months with no statements. A month with fewer than 10 statements is hatched, not shaded: one or two posts would swing its rate to 0% or 100%. 9 months are hatched here; 1 of them have no statements.

    In Melo’s words

    Real statements from the classifier’s example set, with the labels it assigned

    Credit claiming

    The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

    Oct 7, 2026 · Posts on X (state legislators) · policy discussion; credit claiming; Finance and Financial Sector; Housing and Community Development · Source

    Policy criticism

    The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

    Mar 25, 2026 · Posts on X (state legislators) · policy criticism; policy discussion; Housing and Community Development · Source

    Extreme label

    The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

    Jan 20, 2025 · Posts on X (state legislators) · credit claiming; extreme label “extreme” · Source

    Examples by category

    Up to five recent statements in each category

    Category

    Overtly questions a named person’s character, integrity or loyalty, or calls them names. Criticising a record or a policy does not count.

    No statements in this category in this window.

    All 208 statements

    Newest first, the FL 2025–26 session

    The full feed

    Five statements at a time, newest first; filters apply to the statements loaded so far. Export saves the statements that match. Sources: 208 posts on X.

    Back to topNext: Policy

    Policy

    Armed Forces and National Security is what Melo talks about most: 12% of policy statements, 2.5 times the peer share. Talk and legislation agree at 0.41 on a 0–1 scale (State House Republicans average 0.53; 436th of 504).

    Each policy statement is tagged by the AI model with one or more of 25 policy areas from the Congressional Research Service list, so the shares say what Melo talks about. The bills Melo sponsors and cosponsors carry the same areas, so the two can be compared.

    What Melo talks about

    Share of policy statements by area, the FL 2025–26 session

    0%35%
    Melo
    Peers
    Armed Forces and National Security12 statements
    12%
    5%
    Health11 statements
    11%
    10%
    Crime and Law Enforcement10 statements
    10%
    11%
    Education10 statements
    10%
    15%
    Government Operations and Politics10 statements
    10%
    18%
    Show the data
    Policy areas Melo talks about, as a share of policy statements, against the State House Republicans average.
    RowMeloPeers
    Armed Forces and National Security12%5%
    Health11%10%
    Crime and Law Enforcement10%11%
    Education10%15%
    Government Operations and Politics10%18%
    How to read the bars

    The thick bar is the share of Melo’s policy statements in an area; the thin grey bar is the average share for State House Republicans. A statement counts once in each of its areas, so shares can add to more than 100%. The five largest areas are shown; the toggle shows the rest.

    Talks about · legislates on

    Left: share of statements by policy area. Right: share of bills. Areas in order of their share of statements; both sides run from 0 to 35%. Grey ticks are the State House Republicans averages.

    Talks aboutLegislates onArmed Forces and NationalSecurityArmed Forces and National Security, talks about: 12% (State House Republicans 5%)12%Armed Forces and National Security, legislates on: 0% (State House Republicans 2%)0%HealthHealth, talks about: 11% (State House Republicans 10%)11%Health, legislates on: 19% (State House Republicans 10%)19%Crime and Law EnforcementCrime and Law Enforcement, talks about: 10% (State House Republicans 11%)10%Crime and Law Enforcement, legislates on: 12% (State House Republicans 11%)12%EducationEducation, talks about: 10% (State House Republicans 15%)10%Education, legislates on: 12% (State House Republicans 9%)12%Government Operations andPoliticsGovernment Operations and Politics, talks about: 10% (State House Republicans 18%)10%Government Operations and Politics, legislates on: 20% (State House Republicans 12%)20%
    Show the data
    Melo's share of statements against share of bills in each policy area.
    AreaTalks aboutState House Republicans, talks aboutLegislates onState House Republicans, legislates on
    Armed Forces and National Security12%5%0%2%
    Health11%10%19%10%
    Crime and Law Enforcement10%11%12%11%
    Education10%15%12%9%
    Government Operations and Politics10%18%20%12%
    0.41

    talk-to-bills agreement, 0 to 1

    State House Republicans average 0.53. Ranks 436th of 504.

    What agreement means, and what it doesn’t

    Agreement is 1 minus the distance between the two distributions (Jensen–Shannon): 1 means Melo legislates on exactly the areas Melo talks about, in the same proportions; 0 means no overlap. It does not say whether the bills match the positions in the statements, only the subjects. Bills Melo sponsored count fully, cosponsored bills a quarter. Shown with at least 20 policy statements and 5 bills.

    Back to topNext: Ideology

    Ideology

    Melo sits at +0.38 on the CSIP scale, right of 0, more conservative than 55% of State House Republicans. Approximate range +0.33 to +0.43, which understates the uncertainty; from 324 donors and 653 roll calls.

    CSIP, the lab’s Common-Space Ideal Point, places every official, federal and state, on one left–right scale, estimated from roll-call votes, who gives money to whom, and the text of statements. Negative is left of 0, positive right of it; 0 is the centre of the scale, not a definition of “moderate”.

    +0.38

    CSIP ideal point

    Approximate range +0.33 to +0.43. From 324 donors and 653 roll calls. Run 2026-10-25T215945. Blue is left of 0, red right of 0.

    ← More liberalMore conservative →0Melo +0.4State House Republicans +0.4Florida House +0.4All State House +0.1

    The outlined dot is Melo, coloured by its side of 0 (blue left, red right, deeper further out); the bar through it is the approximate range (±1.96 standard errors), which understates the uncertainty; the grey ticks below are the medians of Melo’s groups. 0 is the centre of the scale, not “moderate” by definition.

    What this means, and what it doesn’t

    The score summarises how an official votes, who funds them and how they talk, relative to everyone else. It does not grade positions as good or bad, and two officials with the same score can differ on any single issue. The ± range is 1.96 standard errors, which understates the uncertainty: scores whose ranges overlap may not differ at all, and even scores whose ranges do not overlap may not differ.

    Where Melo sits

    Every official in each group, on the CSIP scale

    −2.0−1.00.0+1.0+2.0← More liberalMore conservative →State House Republicansmedian +0.4Melo +0.4Florida Housemedian +0.4All State Housemedian +0.1
    Show the data
    Melo's CSIP score of +0.38 placed against State House Republicans, Florida House, All State House.
    GroupOfficialsMedianShare left of Melo
    State House Republicans2917+0.455%
    Florida House116+0.447%
    All State House5324+0.175%
    How to read the strips

    Every small dot is one official on the same scale, coloured by its own score (blue left of 0, red right of 0, grey at 0, deeper further out) and spread up and down only to keep dots apart; where a group is crowded the dots overlap, and darker patches mean more officials. The large outlined dot is Melo in every row; the rule is each group’s median. The table under the figure gives the share of each group to the left of Melo.

    Back to topNext: Money

    Money

    Melo reported $213.0K in the 2026 cycle, 6.3 times the State House Republicans’ median of $33.7K. State filings report no small-donation total. 98% of itemized individual money came from Florida.

    Campaign money from state campaign-finance filings, as aggregates only; the lab never shows an individual donor. Campaigns must report by name every person who gives them more than $200 in a cycle (“itemized”); smaller gifts are reported only as one total (“unitemized”), so donor counts, donor states, employers and occupations describe itemized donors only. State filings report no small-gift total, so these figures add up itemized contributions only.

    Election cycle
    $213.0K

    itemized in the 2026 cycle

    From 128 itemized donors. State House Republicans’ median $33.7K.

    Where the money came from

    Each square is one percent of itemized contributions in the 2026 cycle.

    Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)Individuals (itemized): $61.7K (29.0%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)PACs and other committees: $133.9K (62.8%)Party committees: $17.5K (8.2%)Party committees: $17.5K (8.2%)Party committees: $17.5K (8.2%)Party committees: $17.5K (8.2%)Party committees: $17.5K (8.2%)Party committees: $17.5K (8.2%)Party committees: $17.5K (8.2%)Party committees: $17.5K (8.2%)
    • Individuals (itemized)29 squares$61.7K
    • PACs and other committees63 squares$133.9K
    • Party committees8 squares$17.5K
    Show the data
    Sources of Melo's money, 2026 cycle, one square per percent
    SourceAmountShare
    Individuals (itemized)$61.7K29.0%
    PACs and other committees$133.9K62.8%
    Party committees$17.5K8.2%
    What this means, and what it doesn’t

    Totals say how much a campaign took in, not how it was spent, and they rise sharply when a seat is up for election; compare cycles with that in mind.

    Receipts by cycle

    Itemized contributions, 2020 to 2026. The grey line is the State House Republicans’ median for 2026.

    2020 cycle: $126.0K$126.0K20202022 cycle: $63.7K$63.7K20222024 cycle: $88.9K$88.9K20242026 cycle: $213.0K$213.0K2026State House Republicans median $33.7K
    Show the data
    Melo's receipts by cycle against the 2026 State House Republicans median.
    ItemValue
    2020 cycle$126.0K
    2022 cycle$63.7K
    2024 cycle$88.9K
    2026 cycle$213.0K

    Top donor states, 2026

    Itemized contributions by donor state. 98% came from Florida.

    1. Florida$60.7K
    2. New Jersey$1,000

    Small donations

    State filings report no total for small gifts.

    Not reported in state filings.

    Where itemized donors live

    Individuals who gave more than $200, by donor state

    Alaska: no dataAKMaine: no dataMEVermont: no dataVTNew Hampshire: no dataNHWashington: no dataWAIdaho: no dataIDMontana: no dataMTNorth Dakota: no dataNDMinnesota: no dataMNIllinois: no dataILWisconsin: no dataWIMichigan: no dataMINew York: no dataNYRhode Island: no dataRIMassachusetts: no dataMAOregon: no dataORNevada: no dataNVWyoming: no dataWYSouth Dakota: no dataSDIowa: no dataIAIndiana: no dataINOhio: no dataOHPennsylvania: no dataPANew Jersey: $1,000NJConnecticut: no dataCTCalifornia: no dataCAUtah: no dataUTColorado: no dataCONebraska: no dataNEMissouri: no dataMOKentucky: no dataKYWest Virginia: no dataWVVirginia: no dataVAMaryland: no dataMDDelaware: no dataDEArizona: no dataAZNew Mexico: no dataNMKansas: no dataKSArkansas: no dataARTennessee: no dataTNNorth Carolina: no dataNCSouth Carolina: no dataSCDistrict of Columbia: no dataDCOklahoma: no dataOKLouisiana: no dataLAMississippi: no dataMSAlabama: no dataALGeorgia: no dataGAHawaii: no dataHITexas: no dataTXFlorida: $60.7KFL
    Show the data
    Melo's itemized individual contributions by donor state, 2026 cycle
    StateValue
    Florida$60.7K
    New Jersey$1,000
    AlaskaNo data
    MaineNo data
    VermontNo data
    New HampshireNo data
    WashingtonNo data
    IdahoNo data
    MontanaNo data
    North DakotaNo data
    MinnesotaNo data
    IllinoisNo data
    WisconsinNo data
    MichiganNo data
    New YorkNo data
    Rhode IslandNo data
    MassachusettsNo data
    OregonNo data
    NevadaNo data
    WyomingNo data
    South DakotaNo data
    IowaNo data
    IndianaNo data
    OhioNo data
    PennsylvaniaNo data
    ConnecticutNo data
    CaliforniaNo data
    UtahNo data
    ColoradoNo data
    NebraskaNo data
    MissouriNo data
    KentuckyNo data
    West VirginiaNo data
    VirginiaNo data
    MarylandNo data
    DelawareNo data
    ArizonaNo data
    New MexicoNo data
    KansasNo data
    ArkansasNo data
    TennesseeNo data
    North CarolinaNo data
    South CarolinaNo data
    District of ColumbiaNo data
    OklahomaNo data
    LouisianaNo data
    MississippiNo data
    AlabamaNo data
    GeorgiaNo data
    HawaiiNo data
    TexasNo data
    128

    itemized donors

    People who gave more than $200

    98%

    from Florida

    Of itemized individual dollars

    How to read the map

    Every state the same size. Darker states gave more itemized money; hatched states had no itemized donors; the outlined state is Florida. Gifts of $200 or less carry no address and are left out.

    Top donor occupations

    Itemized, 2026 cycle.

    1. ATTORNEY$11.1K 15 donors
    2. RETIRED$6,400 15 donors
    3. AGRICULTURE$6,150 14 donors
    4. GOVERNMENT CONSULTANT$2,750 3 donors
    5. REAL ESTATE$2,250 3 donors

    Top committees

    PAC and committee contributions, 2026 cycle.

    1. FLORIDA REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, INC.$17.5K
    2. BETTER LIVES FOR FLORIDIANS$2,000
    3. BUILDING ON YOUR DREAMS POLITICAL COMMITTEE$2,000
    4. FLORIDA ARCHITECTS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE$2,000
    5. FLORIDA INSURANCE COUNCIL (FIC) POLITICAL COMMITTEE$2,000

    Top employers

    Itemized, 2026 cycle.

    No employers reported.

    Aggregates only. Individual donors are never named.

    Back to topNext: Votes

    Votes

    Melo voted with the majority of Florida House Republicans on 98.6% of party-line votes and missed 2.0% of 817 roll calls. Florida House on average: 94.7% party unity, 94.0% attendance. Across all roll calls, Melo voted against the majority of Florida House Republicans 7 times.

    817 roll calls Melo could vote on in the FL 2025–26 session, compared with Florida House. Attendance is the share with a vote recorded. Party unity counts only party-line roll calls, where most Democrats and most Republicans voted on opposite sides, and is the share of those where Melo voted with the majority of Florida House Republicans. The count of votes against that majority covers every roll call where the majority took a side.

    7

    votes against the majority of Florida House Republicans

    Party unity 98.6%, Florida House average 94.7%, ranks 53rd of 116. 817 roll calls in the FL 2025–26 session.

    Attendance and party unity

    The thick bar is Melo, the thin grey bar the Florida House average. The scale runs from 80% to 100% to show the gap.

    80%100%
    Melo
    Peers
    Rank
    Attendance
    98.0%
    94.0%
    51st of 116
    Party unity
    98.6%
    94.7%
    53rd of 116
    Show the data
    Melo's attendance and party unity against Florida House.
    RowMeloPeers
    Attendance98.0%94.0%
    Party unity98.6%94.7%
    What this means, and what it doesn’t

    A missed roll call has many causes, from illness to campaigning, so attendance says how often, not why. A vote against the majority can be on procedure as well as substance, and many fall on roll calls where both parties split; the key votes below show the ones that decided something.

    Key votes

    25 roll calls the lab flagged as key in the FL 2025–26 session

    Key votes
    Party split (yea–nay)Why it’s key
    Jun 2, 2026
    SB 4F
    Property Tax Administration
    Passage, Third Reading
    YeaWith majoritypassD 1–26 · R 74–1Democrats 1 yea, 26 nay; Republicans 74 yea, 1 naybecame law
    May 12, 2026
    HB 5501E
    Documentary Stamp Tax Distributions
    Passage, Third Reading
    YeaWith majoritypassD 24–3 · R 79–0Democrats 24 yea, 3 nay; Republicans 79 yea, 0 nayparty crossover
    May 12, 2026
    HB 5001E
    General Appropriations Act
    Passage, Third Reading
    YeaWith majoritypassD 19–8 · R 79–0Democrats 19 yea, 8 nay; Republicans 79 yea, 0 nayparty crossover
    May 12, 2026
    HB 5003E
    Implementing the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act
    Passage, Third Reading
    YeaWith majoritypassD 14–12 · R 78–1Democrats 14 yea, 12 nay; Republicans 78 yea, 1 nayparty crossover
    May 12, 2026
    SB 2508E
    State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System
    Passage, Third Reading
    YeaWith majoritypassD 25–3 · R 78–0Democrats 25 yea, 3 nay; Republicans 78 yea, 0 nayparty crossover
    How key votes are chosen

    Automatically: a final-passage or override vote where the measure became law, the margin was under 10%, at least 10% of either party voted against its majority, or the bill was among the 25 most mentioned in officials’ own statements. Up to 25 per window, most recent first; five are shown. Bars show yea on the left, nay on the right, per party.

    Votes most often with

    The colleagues who voted the same way as Melo most often

    1. Jeff HolcombR599 shared votes100%
    2. Yvette BenarrochR732 shared votes99%
    3. Toby OverdorfR798 shared votes99%
    4. Judson SappR785 shared votes99%
    5. Adam BotanaR776 shared votes99%

    Votes least often with

    The colleagues who voted the same way as Melo least often

    1. Angie NixonD742 shared votes74%
    2. Michele RaynerD690 shared votes76%
    3. Ashley GanttD771 shared votes77%
    4. Felicia RobinsonD737 shared votes78%
    5. Dotie JosephD395 shared votes78%
    How to read the agreement lists

    The share of roll calls both members voted on where they voted the same way, among colleagues sharing at least 50 such votes. High agreement with members of the other party is common on routine votes.

    Full voting record

    FL 2025–26 session, loads in batches

    Back to topNext: Legislation

    Legislation

    Melo sponsored 18 bills in the FL 2025–26 session; 5 became law. Cosponsored 12 others. 83% of sponsored bills got out of committee (Florida House average 56%; 12th of 110).

    The bills Melo sponsored and cosponsored in the FL 2025–26 session, from the official bill records, and how far each got: introduced, referred to or acted on in committee, passed one chamber, passed both, became law. A bill counts at every stage it has reached, so the blocks only shrink to the right.

    Bills by stage

    Counts for the FL 2025–26 session

    Sponsored18 billsSponsored, Introduced: 1818Sponsored, In committee: 1818Sponsored, Passed one chamber: 77Sponsored, Passed both chambers: 55Sponsored, Became law: 55Cosponsored12 billsCosponsored, Introduced: 1212Cosponsored, In committee: 1212Cosponsored, Passed one chamber: 1111Cosponsored, Passed both chambers: 77Cosponsored, Became law: 77IntroducedIncommitteePassed onechamberPassed bothchambersBecamelaw
    Show the data
    Bills Melo sponsored and cosponsored, by furthest stage reached
    RoleIntroducedIn committeePassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law
    Sponsored1818755
    Cosponsored12121177
    How to read the blocks

    Ink blocks are bills Melo sponsored, ochre blocks bills Melo cosponsored; the figure above each block is the count. Most bills in any legislature never leave committee, so a short staircase is the norm.

    83%

    of sponsored bills got out of committee

    Florida House average 56%. Ranks 12th of 110.

    Cosponsorship partners

    Colleagues who most often cosponsor with Melo, by number of shared bills in the FL 2025–26 session; the square shows their party.

    1. Yvette Benarroch8
    2. Alex Rizo8
    3. Dana Trabulsy7
    4. Johanna López7
    5. Susan Valdés6
    What this means, and what it doesn’t

    The score is the share of sponsored bills that a committee reported out or a chamber passed, with at least 5 sponsored bills, ranked within the peer group. Members of the majority party and committee chairs move more bills, so the rank reflects position in the chamber as well as effort. Cosponsorship partners are the five colleagues who share the most of Melo’s bills; the toggle shows more.

    Bill list

    Sponsored and cosponsored, with status and policy area; five are shown, the toggle shows the rest

    Bills sponsored and cosponsored
    HB 1509Veterinarian Licensure by EndorsementCosponsorJan 9, 2026Became lawLabor and Employment(model)Chapter No. 2026-79 May 13, 2026
    HB 1019Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl SubstancesCosponsorJan 5, 2026Became lawEnvironmental Protection(model)Chapter No. 2026-158 Jun 17, 2026
    HB 839Unlicensed Practice of EngineeringSponsorDec 19, 2025In committeeCrime and Law Enforcement(model)Laid on Table; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 800 (Ch. 2026-98) Mar 11, 2026
    HB 805Veterinary MedicineSponsorDec 17, 2025Passed one chamberHealth(model)Died in Rules Mar 13, 2026
    HB 807Noncriminal Traffic Infractions Resulting in Vehicle CrashesSponsorDec 17, 2025In committeeTransportation and Public Works(model)Died in Insurance & Banking Subcommittee Mar 13, 2026

    Back to topNext: Online

    Online

    A site that changed 2 times in 90 days. Melo’s official site had 1 page when last crawled on Oct 1, 2026.

    The lab crawls Melo’s official and campaign websites (weekly for Congress, monthly for the states) and keeps every page’s text, so changes can be read later; it also records social accounts and describes the images Melo posts with a vision model.

    Websites

    How to read the counts

    “Pages crawled” is the size of the site at the last crawl; “changes in 90 days” counts pages whose text differed from the previous crawl. Sites change for many routine reasons, such as new press releases, so a high count is not by itself notable.

    Images Melo posted

    No images from Melo’s posts have been described.

    About the descriptions

    Written by a vision model and may be wrong. Open the post to see the original. Five are shown; the toggle shows the rest.

    State floor speeches

    62 turns, Apr 13, 2021 to Mar 5, 2026

    Floor speeches

    Transcribed from chamber video or captions by the lab. They are not classified for kinds of statement.

    Back to topNext: Methods and sources

    Methods and sources

    How this page was made. Profile built Oct 28, 2026; site last built Oct 28, 2026. Every number on the page is computed from the sources listed here, by the same rules for every official; nothing is written by hand.

    The headline

    The headline is the measure on which Melo is most unusual among State House Republicans, chosen by one rule for every official of every party. The candidates are the rate of each kind of statement and of extreme labels, party unity, attendance, the small-donor share, the in-state share and total receipts of the latest cycle, the share of sponsored bills that got out of committee, talk-to-bills agreement, and the CSIP score’s place within the party group.

    The builder ranks every measure within the same peer group the page compares it with, and writes each official’s percentile: the share of the group below the value, ties counting half, so 0.5 is the median and a value shared by many never ranks first. A measure’s score is how far that percentile sits from the median (0 in the middle, 0.5 at either end), and the highest score leads if it is above 0.25, outside the middle half of the group. Scores within 0.03 of each other are a tie, broken in this order: votes against the party majority, kinds of statement, ideology, roll calls missed, small donations, in-state money, legislation, agreement, extreme labels, receipts.

    A measure counts only with at least 200 statements, 100 roll calls or 5 sponsored bills behind it and a peer group of at least 10. Two things never lead: high party unity or attendance, where most members sit, and a high rate of a kind of statement backed by fewer than 10 statements. When nothing qualifies, the headline is a neutral fact instead: statements classified, or years in office. The wording always names the direction (“in the bottom 5% of …”, “votes against the majority of …”).

    Identifiers

    Profile id
    f835385b-0837-4cfc-a81c-54982ba185d7
    Open States
    ocd-person/f835385b-0837-4cfc-a81c-54982ba185d7

    Bulk files with the same data for every official:

    Freshness of this profile’s data

    • What politicians sayOct 27, 20261 days agoMembers of Congress: tweets since 2017; press releases, newsletters and floor speeches since 2022. State legislators: tweets since May 2024. Governors: tweets since January 2025. Labels from an LLM classifier.
    • Roll calls (state)Oct 21, 20267 days agoOpen States floor roll calls, 2019 on (none for AK and MO).
    • Bills (state)Oct 28, 2026todayOpen States bills and sponsors, 2019 on; stages from roll calls.
    • Campaign money (state)no dateState campaign-finance agencies, 2019 on; aggregates only.
    • Ideology (CSIP)Oct 25, 20263 days agoCommon-Space Ideal Points (CSIP), current validated run.
    • WebsitesOct 25, 20263 days agoWeekly crawls of federal sites since April 2026; monthly state crawls since June 2026.
    • State floor speechesOct 21, 20267 days agoState floor speech turns (published transcripts and captions), 2020 on; not LLM-classified.

    How the measures work

    What politicians say
    Every post, press release, newsletter and congressional floor speech is read by a language model and marked for personal attacks, policy criticism, policy discussion, bipartisanship and credit claiming. A statement can be in several. Rates are shares of statements in the window. The methods paper.
    Extreme labels
    A statement has an extreme label when it calls a politician, party or policy “far left”, “far right”, “MAGA”, “extreme”, “radical”, “woke”, “fascist” or “communist”. The target is who the label is aimed at.
    Policy areas and agreement
    Statements and bills share 25 Congressional Research Service policy areas (state bills are assigned by a language model). Agreement is 1 − Jensen–Shannon distance between the two distributions, shown with at least 20 policy statements and 5 bills.
    Ideology (CSIP)
    Common-Space Ideal Points place federal and state officials on one left–right scale, estimated jointly from roll calls, campaign contributions and the text of statements, with standard errors. Only a validated run is shown. The methods paper.
    Campaign money
    Campaigns report by name only donors who give more than $200 in a cycle; smaller gifts are reported as one total. Federal totals and the small-donor share come from the FEC’s financial summaries of each campaign committee. Donor counts, donor states, employers and occupations cover itemized donors only. State filings report no small-gift totals, so state figures are itemized only. The lab never publishes donor names.
    Votes and key votes
    Attendance, party unity and the count of votes against the majority of an official’s own party come from roll calls (Voteview for Congress, chamber records for the states). Key votes are final-passage or override votes that became law, were decided by under 10%, saw at least 10% of a party vote against its majority, or concerned one of the 25 bills most mentioned in officials’ statements.
    Peers and ranks
    Comparisons are with the same party, chamber and level (for example House Democrats); state legislators are compared within their state and chamber for votes. Every comparison names its group. Rank 1 is the highest value in the group; tied values share the average of their ranks, and the percentile is the share of the group below the value, ties counting half.

    America’s Political Pulse · Polarization Research Lab

    Back to top