If Elected, Florida HVAC Contractor Could Be Richest Member of Congress

Joe Strada, an HVAC contractor running as the Republican nominee for Florida's 11th Congressional District, could become the wealthiest member of Congress if elected, with an estimated net worth around $800 million. He built Strada Services, a company offering heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing, and security work, mostly for new home construction and homeowners. The business now employs more than 4,000 people across 13 states and brings in roughly $534 million a year, with over 211,000 systems installed and 485,000 repaired, according to the company.

Strada started in the trades at 19 and earned state certifications in electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, and general contracting over the following decades. He co-founded what became Strada Services in 2003, took full ownership in 2016, and later landed a major HVAC contract with homebuilder Lennar that generated about $120 million in air-conditioning work within a year and a half. A private equity firm later bought a 55% stake in the company.

For homeowners, this story is less about any upgrade or rebate and more about a trades background entering national politics. Strada's campaign emphasizes workforce development, apprenticeships, and technical education as alternatives to a four-year degree. He has Donald Trump's endorsement and is running to succeed retiring Rep. Daniel Webster, who also came from an HVAC family business. The seat is considered solidly Republican heading into the November election.