A Democrat, he represented parts of northern Broward and southern Palm Beach Counties in the Florida House from 2008 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2016.

Rader was born in Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Florida in 1972, where he graduated from Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs in 1986.

In the Democratic primary, Rader faced retired lawyer and 2008 legislature candidate Peter Burkert.

During the campaign, The Palm Beach Post endorsed Burkert and strongly criticized Rader for his co-sponsorship of "one of the worst insurance giveaway bills, the so-called 'State Farm Bill' that would have allowed the state's 15 largest property insurers to charge basically whatever they wanted.

During the election, Rader accused Benacquisto of committing 105 election law violations, which Politifact rated as a true statement,[3] and of supporting making abortion illegal in all cases, "including rape, incest, even to save a woman's life," which Politifact rated as "mostly true.

He faced Steve Perman, his successor as State Representative in the 78th District, in the Democratic primary.