Mike La Rosa

In 2012, incumbent Republican State Representative Mike Horner was seeking re-election, but he resigned from the House on September 24, 2012, after he was implicated during an investigation of a prostitution ring in Central Florida. On September 29, La Rosa was named as Horner's replacement in the newly created 42nd District, but because state law prevented changes in the ballot so close to the election, Horner's name, and not La Rosa's, was printed on the ballots. A contentious election ensued, with La Rosa squaring off against the Democratic nominee, Eileen Game. The Orlando Sentinel endorsed La Rosa, despite the fact that he was "hard to pin down on specifics...because he's still learning about them," because Game lived outside the district and had declared bankruptcy. In the end, La Rosa narrowly edged out Game to win his first term, defeating her with 50.4% of the vote and by 529 votes.

La Rosa was born in Miami, and attended the University of Central Florida, where he graduated with a degree in interpersonal communication in 2002. After graduation, he formed La Rosa Development and La Rosa Realty with his brother, Joseph La Rosa.

Mike La Rosa (born February 25, 1982) is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 42nd District, which includes Osceola County and eastern Polk County, since 2012.