Lal Spencer Roach III[1] (born September 2,1977) is an American attorney,military veteran,and former Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives. He served from 2018 to 2024,representing parts of Lee,Charlotte,and DeSoto counties.
Roach was first elected to the Florida House in 2018,defeating Democrat Mark Lipton with 58.92% of the vote.[4] He transitioned to representing District 76 after redistricting in 2022.
During his tenure,Roach was known for his work on child welfare reform,post-hurricane recovery efforts,and advocacy for property insurance reform. He helped secure $1 million for the Florida Repertory Theatre following Hurricane Ian and raised nearly $400 million in overall recovery funds.[5]
He also supported legislation requiring parents to act faster to reunite with children in foster care and worked to revamp Florida’s wrongful death laws. However,some of his initiatives—such as expanding Citizens Property Insurance to all residents—failed to gain legislative traction.[6]
Departure from office
In April 2024,Roach announced that he would not seek reelection,citing burnout and financial reasons. “I’m burned out,I’m exhausted,and maybe my heart’s not in it,”he said.[7] He added,“It’s time for me to step away,and I will leave political office the same way I entered it:with my integrity intact,my conscience clear and my heart full.”[8]
His final day in office was November 5,2024. He was succeeded by Republican Vanessa Oliver.[9]
Political positions and endorsements
Roach was a supporter of Ron DeSantis' 2024 presidential campaign. In 2022,he published an op-ed expressing his concerns about the direction of the Republican Party and criticized the pressure to support Donald Trump. In the column,Roach wrote that he had become a "pariah" within the party for not backing Trump and warned of the dangers of groupthink:"Perhaps my greater concern for the future of the GOP lies in the vicious backlash I have experienced since daring to express an opinion contrary to accepted dogma."[8]
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