In 2006, incumbent State Representative Dennis A. Ross opted to run for re-election in the 64th District rather than the 63rd, where he had previously been elected, creating an open seat.

He won the nomination of his party unopposed and advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by independent candidate Lillian Lima.

His opponent largely campaigned on replacing most politicians with fresher faces, while McKeel defended his record, noting, "I ran my first campaign on my vision for my hometown and a deeply rooted belief in limited government and fiscal conservatism.

"[3] Ultimately, McKeel turned away Lima's challenge, winning election to his final term in the legislature with 64% of the vote.

When Chief Financial Officer of Florida Jeff Atwater was under consideration to be President of the Florida Atlantic University in 2014, when he was running for re-election, McKeel was considered a possible candidate to replace Atwater on the ballot as the Republican nominee.