Doug Bankson 2024

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October 4, 2024

Doug Bankson, of Apopka, is a 63-year-old incumbent Republican candidate for the Florida House of Representatives District 39. He began his first term in 2022. Bankson is the founder and senior pastor of Victory Church World Outreach Center in Apopka. Prior to serving in the State House, Bankson served as Apopka City Commissioner and vice mayor. 

As the incumbent, he has signed, enacted,and/or adopted bills for anti-human trafficking, the School Chaplins act (which authorizes school districts and charter schools to adopt a policy allowing volunteer school chaplains into schools), the Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program, a pregnancy and parenting resources website and more. He supported House Bill 1639, which attempted to require certain applications and licenses to indicate a person’s sex, rather than gender. 

Bankson said he believes in “faith, family and freedom.” Economically, he said on his website that he plans to address the rising cost of living, lower taxes, find solutions to the housing crisis and maintain a balanced budget. He said he aims to ensure parents have a voice in education and that there are ample opportunities for learning regardless of a student’s background. He also said he wants to protect Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka.

Bankson is endorsed by several current and former Apopka elected officials, and the Orlando Regional Realtor Association. Learn more.

Over the course of Bankson’s 2024 campaign, he has raised $143,690.24 and spent $23,288.50, according to Transparency USA. 

Bankson did not submit a video or participate in OCN’s candidate Q&A.

Author
Megan Stokes

Megan is co-founder and editor-in-chief of Oviedo Community News, the only independent news source for Greater Oviedo and Winter Springs. She oversees editorial content, policy and staff. She attends meetings, sends out the e-newsletter and curates conversations in the community to understand the information gaps that OCN needs to fill. She also works to create partnerships that can strengthen the bond between community and newsroom.

She has served as an award-winning community journalist for more than 20 years, including as associate editor for the East Orlando Sun and a reporter for the Seminole Voice, the Winter Park-Maitland Observer and Orlando Magazine.
In 2024, Megan was named Editor of the Year by the Society for Professional Journalism. With the Central Florida Foundation and Central Florida Public Media, she co-found the News Collaborative of Central Florida, a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida.
She served as treasurer for the Florida Press Club for seven years and has won awards from the Institute for Nonprofit News, the Florida Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalism. Megan holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism (now called the Reed College of Media) at West Virginia University.

Megan also loves yoga, running and playing board games with her family.

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