About me
My name is Zane, and I’ve spent the past several years working in Florida politics. I was born in Hays, Kansas, and moved to rural Osceola County as a child. I attended elementary school in Saint Cloud before transitioning to homeschooling. I began my college education at Valencia College and later studied business management at the University of North Florida.
My interest in politics was sparked by the 2008 presidential election. In 2016, I got involved on the ground, knocking on doors in Orange County for President Trump’s campaign. By 2018, I was interning for a state legislator and later served as treasurer for a Florida House campaign. In 2020, I managed Barbara Cady’s campaign in one of Florida’s most competitive legislative races. We came within 1% of winning, and the experience only deepened my commitment to this work.
After redistricting in 2022, I became campaign manager for Tom Keen, a Navy veteran running in the newly drawn House District 35, covering parts of Orange and Osceola counties. Although we lost the Democratic primary by just 57 votes, the campaign laid the groundwork for a comeback. When the seat reopened a year later, I returned to lead the campaign. We won both the primary—against two well-funded opponents—and the general election, flipping a district Republicans had held for over 15 years despite being significantly outspent. I later worked in Rep. Keen’s legislative office until November 2024, when he narrowly lost re-election.
Over time, I’ve become especially focused on redistricting reform. I’ve seen how unfair maps divide communities, confuse voters, and leave people represented by someone who may live hundreds of miles away. It weakens accountability and limits access. To address this, we need independent redistricting commissions, transparent mapping processes, community-driven input, and strong legal protections to guard against partisan gerrymandering. Just as importantly, we must ensure that districts are balanced, competitive, and reflect the state’s actual voter registration by party. Fair representation starts with fair maps—and lasting change depends on public engagement.
Outside of politics, I enjoy traveling, following the latest in automotive and aviation news, attending car shows, and—yes—watching C-SPAN, even while on the go.