Meet Johanna López,

a leader, educator, and advocate whose life and career reflect resilience, service, and a deep commitment to community.

Raised in public housing in Puerto Rico, Johanna was shaped by a hardworking mother who cleaned houses for living and a father, a U.S. Army veteran who later suffered a massive stroke when she was only 10 years old.

However despite the adversity of her youth, Johanna earned a Bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Studies from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, and a Master’s degree in Higher Education from Inter American University of Puerto Rico in San Germán. She moved to Orlando in 1998, where she worked at a car wash at Orlando International Airport and later in the fast-food restaurant, Taco Bell.

As a survivor of domestic violence, a single mother of four, a grandmother of a beautiful girl and the mother and daughter of veterans, Johanna has personal experience balancing work, education, and family while remaining deeply connected to the neighborhoods she now proudly represents.

For more than 20 years, Johanna served as an educator at Colonial High School, becoming a mentor and fierce advocate for students and families. Her impact in the classroom earned her recognition as the 2017 Orange County Public Schools Teacher of the Year as well as receiving national recognition with the Queen Smith Award for her commitment to urban public education.

In 2018, Johanna made history as the first Latina elected to the Orange County School Board through a student-led campaign with students who attended schools within the district such as Timber Creek High School, Colonial High School, Lake Nona High School and Odyssey Middle School among others. During her tenure, she advanced efforts to honor community values by renaming Stonewall Jackson Middle School after Roberto Clemente. Her leadership has earned numerous honors, including the Governor’s Shine Award, National Association of Social Workers Elected Official of the Year, and recognition from the Farmworkers Association of Florida.

In 2022, District 43 residents entrusted Johanna to be their voice in the Florida House of Representatives, and in 2024, they reelected her to continue that work. During her time in the Legislature, Johanna has turned community priorities into action, passing multiple bills into law focused on education, immigration, health care, business, and consumer protection. She has worked across the aisle to deliver results, co-sponsoring more than 390 bills.

Johanna currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Orange County Realtors Foundation, is an Executive Board Member of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, and previously served on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Teacher Advisory Council. She was also a member of the Superintendent’s Public Education Leadership Project at Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Orange County Public Schools Foundation.

Now, Johanna is running for County Commissioner to deliver proven leadership, fiscal responsibility, and real transparency. She will champion smart growth, reduce traffic congestion, and invest in the infrastructure our communities need. Johanna is committed to protecting taxpayers, strengthening transportation systems, and expanding access to business, workforce, and housing opportunities, so that county government can truly work for everyone.