Background

Stuart resident Gayle Harrell served as the Florida House Representative for district 81 from 2000-2008, and ran for Congressional district 16 in 2008, narrowly losing in the Republican primary to Tom Rooney by less than 2%. She has a BA in Spanish and a Masters in Latin American Studies from the University of Florida, and has been a teacher in the Martin County school system, and the administrator for her husband's medical practice. As a Florida Legislator, Gayle was a health care advocate and was appointed to the national Health Information Technology Policy Committee in 2009, by then Speaker John Boehner. She also served on the National Governor's Association State Alliance for e-Health. Her policy interests include cutting taxes and spending, cleaning up the estuary and Everglades restoration, and is opposed to the Brightline plan for the Treasure Coast.

In the 2018 primary, Gayle defeated Belinda Keiser, earning 56% of the vote, then beat Robert Levy with 54%.