THEIR FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS

Why November 3 matters right here at home

At our most recent Moms for Maples gathering, Jon Maples received what may have been one of his biggest endorsements yet from some of the smallest constituents in the room. One young supporter was appropriately dressed in a Florida Gators cheerleading outfit. There were smiles, handshakes, and the kind of moments that make a community event feel less like politics and more like what it really is: neighbors coming together because they care about where we live and what we leave behind for the next generation.

Those little faces were also a powerful reminder of why elections like this matter. Most of those children cannot vote yet. They will not be standing in a voting booth on November 3. But they will grow up in the schools, neighborhoods, and communities shaped by the decisions adults make today. Their future is not something abstract or far away. It is being built right now, right here in our own backyard.

Jon was also proud to shake the hand of Reid, a high school senior who is already showing what it looks like when a young person understands the importance of civic involvement. At 18, Reid has used his voice to encourage other young people to register to vote, learn about the issues, and become involved in local elections. His enthusiasm is encouraging because it shows that young people are paying attention. They want to understand the world they are inheriting, and many of them want to have a role in shaping it.

There is something especially meaningful about seeing both ends of that spectrum in the same room: children who are still years away from voting and a young man who has just reached the age when he can cast his first ballot. In between those two moments are years of watching us. Our children watch whether we participate, whether we learn about the people making decisions on our behalf, whether we show up for our neighbors, and whether we treat our responsibility to vote as something that matters.

THE ELECTIONS CLOSEST TO HOME MATTER

We live in a time when national politics is always within reach. We can open our phones at any hour and immediately know what is happening in Washington. Federal elections matter, and national issues deserve our attention. But that constant focus can make it easy to overlook the elections happening much closer to us.

Florida’s 2026 General Election is Tuesday, November 3, and every Florida House district is on the ballot this year. State representatives make decisions in Tallahassee on issues that can affect everyday life across Florida and within the communities they represent. That is why participation does not end with presidential elections or the races that dominate national television. State and local elections are another important part of representative government.

For families, those issues can feel especially personal. Education, affordability, infrastructure, public safety, parental involvement, and the future of local communities are not distant conversations. They are connected to the places where we raise our children, drive to work, build businesses, attend school, and plan for the future.

WHY THIS IS PERSONAL FOR JON

For Jon, the future of young people is personal. His wife, Kristi, is a science teacher, and education has been part of their family’s everyday life. Jon’s campaign has emphasized parental involvement in education, strong schools, support for teachers, safe communities, affordability, and creating opportunities for the next generation to succeed.

Jon believes children deserve schools where they can learn and teachers who are supported in doing the work they were called to do. He also wants young people who grow up here to be able to imagine building their own lives here someday. That means thinking beyond a single election cycle and asking what kind of community we are creating for the students sitting in today’s classrooms.

The little ones at Moms for Maples may not understand House districts, legislation, or Tallahassee yet. They should not have to. They should be able to be children. But the adults in their lives do have a responsibility to pay attention, participate, and demonstrate that citizenship involves more than having an opinion. It involves showing up.

FROM A VOTING PLAN TO A +10 PLAN

That is where the +10 Maples Movement comes in. The idea has always been simple: do not think only about your own vote. Think about the people around you. Your neighbors. Your friends. Your colleagues. The parents you meet at your children’s activities. The person you have a conversation with at church, at the grocery store, or while walking your neighborhood.

As we have spent time talking with residents throughout District 87, one thing has become clear: not everyone realizes there is another election on November 3. That makes personal reminders important. A conversation between neighbors can reach someone who may never see a campaign post or political advertisement.

So this time, go one step beyond simply making your own plan. Choose your +10. Send them a calendar invitation for November 3. Send a text now, and another reminder as Election Day gets closer. Call the friend who does not follow politics closely. When you meet someone new along the way, remind them that the General Election is coming and encourage them to learn about the races on their ballot.

The goal is not simply to talk about participation. It is to practice it. Reid is already encouraging his generation to get involved. The youngest children we met are watching the adults around them. And all of us have an opportunity to show them that what happens in our own community is worthy of our attention.

November 3 is our opportunity to participate in choosing the people who will represent our communities. Make your plan. Help someone else make theirs. Put Election Day on the calendar, share the date, and remember the young people who will inherit what we build today.

Election information: Florida’s 2026 General Election is November 3, 2026. The statewide voter-registration deadline is October 5, and the mandatory early-voting period is October 24-31. Voters should confirm local voting information with their county Supervisor of Elections.