Doug Holder

Background

Holder, Doug was born on December 7, 1966 in Marietta, Georgia, United States.

Education

Holder attended Middle Tennessee State University, where he received a degree in political science in 1990.

Career

He is currently a candidate for the in 2018. While in college, he served as Study Body President and was the Student Ambassador for George H. West. Bush when he visited the campus. Holder moved to the state of Florida in 1997.

When incumbent State Representative Nancy C. Detert was unable to seek re-election in 2006 due to term limits, Holder ran in the Republican primary to succeed her in the 70th District, which included most of western Sarasota County, stretching from Englewood to Siesta Key, and faced Rory Dubin, Jon Kleiber, and Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder.

He spent nearly $400,000 of his own money on advertising, "leading some people to accuse Holder..of trying to buy the office and of ignorance of local issues." Holder emerged victorious in the Republican primary, winning 42% of the vote, and moved on to the general election, where he engaged in a contentious campaign with the Democratic nominee, attorney David Shapiro. Though Holder and Shapiro pledged to run positive campaigns, a group supporting Holder, People for a Better Florida Fund, which received a sizable donation from Holder’s stepmother, attacked Shapiro for being a "millionaire trial lawyer" and for opposing tort reform.

However, despite this fact, Holder managed to repeat his 2008 victory, defeating Feehan with 61% of the vote. In 2012, when the legislative districts were reconfigured, Holder was moved to the 74th District, which included most of the territory that he previously represented in Sarasota County from the 70th District.

In 2013, Holder announced that he would run to succeed State Senator Nancy Detert in the 28th District, which includes western Charlotte County and Sarasota County, in 2018, when Detert will be term-limited.

Acknowledging that it is unusual to file to run for a position nearly six years in advance of the election, Holder noted, "If I have competition, it"s good for me to get going early.".

Achievements

• Doug Holder has been listed as a noteworthy state legislator by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Member National Rifle Association (life), Florida Association Realtors, National Association Realtors, Sarasota Association Realtors, Sarasota Chamber of Commerce (trustee).

Connections

Married Shannon Holder. Children: Channing, Chase.

Spouse:

Shannon Holder

child:

Chase Holder

child:

Channing Holder