Burt L. Saunders is a registered Republican and a former member of the Florida Senate, representing the 37th District since 1999. Previously he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1994 through 1998. In 2008 Saunders ran for the United States House of Representatives in Florida's 14th District with no party affiliation. He lost, finishing third in the four-way general election, receiving 14.7% of the vote.