2020 Florida elections

Last updated

2020 Florida elections
Flag of Florida.svg
  2018
2022  

Florida state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Aside from its presidential primaries held on March 17, its primary elections were held on August 18, 2020. [1]

Contents

In addition to the U.S. presidential race, Florida voters elected all of its seats to the U.S. House of Representatives, one seat on the Florida Supreme Court, 25 of 65 seats on the Florida District Courts of Appeal, all of the seats of the Florida House of Representatives, and 21 of 40 seats in the Florida Senate. Six ballot measures were also voted on. Neither of the state's two U.S. Senate seats were up for election in 2020. [1]

To vote by mail, registered Florida voters had to request a ballot by October 24, 2020. [2] As of early October some 5,547,170 voters had requested mail ballots. [3]

Federal offices

President of the United States

Florida has 29 electoral votes in the Electoral College. Donald Trump won all of them with 51% of the popular vote. The following people filed for presidency candidacy:

2020 Presidential Candidates
CandidatePartyIncumbent
Donald J. TrumpRepublican Party
Joe R. Biden Jr.Democratic Party
Joanne "Jo" M. JorgensenLibertarian Party
Gloria E. La RivaParty for Socialism and Liberation
Roque "Rocky" De La FuenteReform Party
Brian T. Carroll(unaffiliated / independent)
Shawn W. Howard(unaffiliated / independent)
Valeria L. McCray(unaffiliated / independent)
Jade Simmons(unaffiliated / independent)
Kasey Wells(unaffiliated / independent)

United States House of Representatives

There are 26 U.S. Representatives in Florida that were up for election in addition to two seats opened by retirements and one opened after the incumbent, Ross Spano, lost renomination in its Republican primary. [4] 16 Republicans and 11 Democrats were returned. The Republican Party gained two districts, the 26th and the 27th.

2020 U.S. House of Representatives Candidates
CandidatePartyDistrictIncumbent
Gus M. BilirakisRepublican Party12
Kimberly WalkerDemocratic Party12
Ardian ZikaRepublican Party37
Tammy GarciaDemocratic Party37

State offices

State Judiciary

A retention election occurred for one of seven seats on the Supreme Court of Florida. The incumbent, Carlos G. Muñiz, filed for re-election. He won another 6-year term with 66% of the votes. [5]

Shall Justice Carlos G. Muniz be retained in Office? [6]
ChoiceVotes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes6,297,75365.74
No3,281,46834.26
Total votes9,579,221100.00

State legislature

All 120 seats of the Florida House of Representatives and 21 of 40 seats of the Florida Senate are up for election. The outcome of this election could affect partisan balance during post-census redistricting. [7]

State senate

20 out of 40 seats were up for election in the state Senate with one special election. Before the election the composition of the state Senate was:

Party# of seats
Republican23
Democratic17
Total40

After the election, the composition was:

Party# of seats
Republican24
Democratic16
Total40

House of Representatives

All 120 seats in the state House were up for election. Before the election the composition of the state House was:

Party# of seats
Republican71
Democratic46
Total120 [a]

After the election, the composition was:

Party# of seats
Republican78
Democratic42
Total120
A blank 2020 General Election Ballot from Sumter County. 2020 General Election Ballot in Sumter County.jpg
A blank 2020 General Election Ballot from Sumter County.

Ballot measures

To pass, any state constitutional amendment requires 60% of the vote. [8]

Amendment 1

Citizen Requirement for Voting Initiative would enshrine in the state constitution the exclusivity of voting rights for U.S. Citizens. [9]

Amendment 1 [6]
ChoiceVotes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes8,307,10979.29
No2,169,68420.71
Required majority60.00
Total votes10,476,793100.00

Amendment 2

$15 Minimum Wage Initiative would alter the state's constitution to guarantee a gradual raise of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026. [10]

Amendment 2 [6]
ChoiceVotes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes6,391,75360.82
No4,117,81539.18
Required majority60.00
Total votes10,509,568100.00

Amendment 3

Top-Two Open Primaries Initiative would implement the contemporary Californian primary system, opening primaries to all votes regardless of party registration, placing candidates of all parties on the same ballot and advancing the first-place and second-place finishers to the general election regardless of party affiliation. In addition, if only two candidates filed for the primary, this system would cancel the primary and automatically send them to the general election. [11]

Amendment 3 [6]
ChoiceVotes %
Light brown x.svg No4,410,76842.97
Yes5,854,46857.03
Required majority60.00
Total votes10,265,236100.00

Amendment 4

Require Constitutional Amendments to be Passed Twice would require that any further amendments would need to succeed in two different elections to be ratified. [12]

Amendment 4 [6]
ChoiceVotes %
Light brown x.svg No5,356,79252.47
Yes4,853,40247.53
Required majority60.00
Total votes10,210,194100.00

Amendment 5

Extend "Save Our Homes" Portability Period Amendment would increase the period during which a person may transfer "Save Our Homes" benefits to a new homestead property from two years to three years.

Amendment 5 [6]
ChoiceVotes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes7,484,10474.49
No2,562,38725.51
Required majority60.00
Total votes10,046,491100.00

Amendment 6

Homestead Property Tax Discount for Spouses of Deceased Veterans Amendment would allow a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran.

Amendment 6 [6]
ChoiceVotes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes9,305,50389.73
No1,065,30810.27
Required majority60.00
Total votes10,370,811100.00

Polling

The highlighted result in any poll is whichever is closer to its threshold (40% for 'against' and 60% for 'for' with respect to a given amendment).

Amendment 1

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [b]
Margin
of error
For Florida Amendment 1Against Florida Amendment 1Undecided
Civiqs/Daily Kos [13] October 17–20, 2020863 (LV)± 3.5%53%39%9%
University of North Florida [14] October 1–4, 20203,091 (LV)78% [c] 18%2% [d]
St. Leo University Polling Institute [15] November 13–18, 2019500 (A)± 4.5%80%10%9%

Amendment 2

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [b]
Margin
of error
For Florida Amendment 2Against Florida Amendment 2OtherUndecided
St. Pete Polls [16] October 29–30, 20202,758 (LV)± 1.9%58%35%8%
Monmouth University [17] October 24–28, 2020509 (RV)± 4.7%63%32%2% [e] 4%
Florida Atlantic University [18] October 24–25, 2020937 (LV)± 3.1%62%38%8%
Civiqs/Daily Kos [13] October 17–20, 2020863 (LV)± 3.5%57%38%4%
Ipsos/Pure Spectrum [19] October 7–15, 20201,001 (A)± 3.5%70%21%9%
Emerson College [20] October 10–12, 2020690 (LV)± 3.7%52%31%11%
University of North Florida [14] October 1–4, 20203,055 (LV)60% [c] 37%3% [f]
Cherry Communications/Florida Chamber of Commerce [21] [A] September 23–29, 2020604 (LV)± 4%66%
St. Pete Polls [22] September 21–22, 20202,906 (LV)± 1.8%65%23%13%
Monmouth University [23] September 10–13, 2020428 (RV)± 4.7%67%26%1% [g] 6%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics [24] May 26–27, 20204,763 (RV)± 1.4%64%24%12%
St. Leo University Polling Institute [15] November 13–18, 2019500 (A)± 4.5%63%26%11%
St. Pete Polls [25] May 6 – June 1, 20193,790 (RV)± 1.6%58%35%7%

Amendment 3

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [b]
Margin
of error
For Florida Amendment 3Against Florida Amendment 3OtherUndecided
St. Pete Polls [16] October 29–30, 20202,758 (LV)± 1.9%48%40%12%
Monmouth University [17] October 24–28, 2020509 (RV)± 4.7%53%30%2% [h] 15%
Florida Atlantic University [18] October 24–25, 2020937 (LV)± 3.1%58%29%13%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics [26] October 21–22, 20202,527 (LV)± 2%37%44%19%
Civiqs/Daily Kos [13] October 17–20, 2020863 (LV)± 3.5%51%36%13%
University of North Florida [14] October 1–4, 20202,994 (LV)58% [c] 36%6% [i]
Cherry Communications/Florida Chamber of Commerce [21] [B] September 23–29, 2020604 (LV)± 4%61%
St. Pete Polls [22] September 21–22, 20202,906 (LV)± 1.8%46%35%19%
Monmouth University [23] September 10–13, 2020428 (RV)± 4.7%63%21%1% [j] 15%
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics [24] May 26–27, 20204,763 (RV)± 1.4%35%44%20%
St. Pete Polls [27] October 7–10, 20193,283 (RV)± 1.7%38%48%14%
St. Pete Polls [25] May 6 – June 1, 20193,790 (RV)± 1.6%59%26%14%

Amendment 4

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [b]
Margin
of error
For Florida Amendment 4Against Florida Amendment 4Undecided
University of North Florida [14] October 1–4, 20202,943 (LV)52% [c] 41%7% [k]
Cherry Communications/Florida Chamber of Commerce [21] [C] September 23–29, 2020604 (LV)± 4%61%
St. Pete Polls [22] September 21–22, 20202,906 (LV)± 1.8%44%31%25%
St. Pete Polls [27] October 7–10, 20193,283 (RV)± 1.7%49%30%21%

Amendment 5

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [b]
Margin
of error
For Florida Amendment 5Against Florida Amendment 5Undecided
University of North Florida [14] October 1–4, 20202,928 (LV)67% [c] 26%7% [l]

Amendment 6

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [b]
Margin
of error
For Florida Amendment 6Against Florida Amendment 6Undecided
University of North Florida [14] October 1–4, 20202,913 (LV)88% [c] 8%4% [m]

See also

Notes

  1. Including 3 vacancies
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Questions in this poll were preceded by the pollster's assessment of each measure's potential effects beforehand
  4. Includes "Refused"
  5. Would not vote with 2%
  6. Includes "Refused"
  7. Would not vote with 1%
  8. Would not vote with 2%
  9. Includes "Refused"
  10. Would not vote with 1%
  11. Includes "Refused"
  12. Includes "Refused"
  13. Includes "Refused"

Partisan clients

  1. This poll's sponsor opposed this amendment prior to the sampling period
  2. This poll's sponsor opposed this amendment prior to the sampling period
  3. This poll's sponsor supported this amendment prior to the sampling period

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution</span> 1964 amendment prohibiting poll taxes

The Twenty-fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits both Congress and the states from requiring the payment of a poll tax or any other tax to vote in federal elections. The amendment was proposed by Congress to the states on August 27, 1962, and was ratified by the states on January 23, 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in the United States</span>

In the politics of the United States, elections are held for government officials at the federal, state, and local levels. At the federal level, the nation's head of state, the president, is elected indirectly by the people of each state, through an Electoral College. Today, these electors almost always vote with the popular vote of their state. All members of the federal legislature, the Congress, are directly elected by the people of each state. There are many elected offices at state level, each state having at least an elective governor and legislature. There are also elected offices at the local level, in counties, cities, towns, townships, boroughs, and villages; as well as for special districts and school districts which may transcend county and municipal boundaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Florida</span>

Elections in Florida are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in even-numbered years, as provided for in Article 6 of the Florida Constitution. For state elections, the Governor of Florida, Lieutenant Governor, and the members of the Florida Cabinet, and members of the Florida Senate are elected every four years; members of the Florida House of Representatives are elected every two years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Texas</span>

From 1836 to 1845, the Republic of Texas elected its own presidents. In 1845, it was admitted to the United States as the state of Texas, and has been a participant in every presidential election since, except for 1864 and 1868. Texas did not participate in these due to its secession from the United States to join the Confederate States of America on February 1, 1861, and its status as an unreconstructed state in 1868 following the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States elections</span> American election

The 2020 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The Democratic Party's nominee, former vice president Joe Biden, defeated incumbent Republican president Donald Trump in the presidential election. Despite losing seats in the House of Representatives, Democrats retained control of the House and very narrowly gained control of the Senate. As a result, the Democrats obtained a government trifecta, the first time since the elections in 2008 that the party gained unified control of Congress and the presidency. With Trump losing his bid for re-election, he became the first president to have seen his party lose the presidency and control of both the House and the Senate since Herbert Hoover in 1932. This was the first time since 1980 that either chamber of Congress flipped partisan control in a presidential year, and the first time Democrats did so since 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in North Dakota</span>

Statewide elections in the U.S. state of North Dakota take place every two years. Most executive offices and all legislators are elected to four-year terms, with half the terms expiring on U.S. Presidential election years, and the other half expiring on mid-term election years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 California elections</span>

The California state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Unlike previous election cycles, the primary elections were held on Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Florida</span>

The 2020 United States presidential election in Florida was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election, in which all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated. Florida voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent president Donald Trump, and his running mate, Vice President Mike Pence, against Democratic Party nominee, former vice president Joe Biden, and his running mate, United States senator Kamala Harris, of California. Florida had 29 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Arizona elections</span>

Elections were held in the U.S. state of Arizona on November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 General Election. Arizona voters chose 11 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote. Three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission were up for election, as were all nine of Arizona seats in the United States House of Representatives, and one of its seats in the United States Senate. Primary elections were held in August 2020. Paper ballots for voting by mail were sent to all registered voters in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Florida Senate election</span>

The 2020 elections for the Florida Senate took place on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, to elect state senators from 20 of 40 districts. The Republican Party has held a Senate majority since 1995. The result was a one-seat gain for the Republicans, thus maintaining their majority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Utah elections</span>

Utah state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Aside from its presidential primaries held on March 3, its primary elections were held on June 30, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Texas elections</span>

Texas state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Its primaries were held on March 3, 2020, with runoffs taking place on July 14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Alabama elections</span>

Alabama state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Its primary elections were held on March 3, 2020, with runoffs taking place on July 31.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Tennessee elections</span>

Tennessee state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Primary elections for the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee House of Representatives, as well as various judicial retention elections, were held on August 6, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Colorado elections</span>

Colorado state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The deadline to register and receive a ballot by mail in Colorado was October 26, 2020. Voters may register in person and vote or pick up a ballot at Voter Service Centers October 19 through 7 p.m. November 3, 2020. Colorado exclusively used a vote-by-mail system, although voters may choose to vote in person at Voter Service and Polling Centers (VSPCs).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Virginia elections</span>

Virginia state elections in 2020 was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. With the exception of its Democratic Party presidential primary election held on March 3, 2020, its primary elections were held on June 23 of that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Alaska elections</span>

Alaska state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Aside from its party-run Democratic presidential primary held on April 10, its primary elections were held on August 18, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Florida Amendment 4</span>

2020 Florida Amendment 4, commonly known as the Think Twice Initiative was a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Florida that failed by 52.47% to 47.53% in the 2020 election on November 3, 2020. The amendment would have required new constitutional amendments to be approved by voters twice in order to go into effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Florida elections</span> Index of articles associated with the same name

A general election was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, to elect candidates throughout Florida, as part of the 2022 midterm elections. The results of the elections showed strong Republican Party outcomes, as every statewide Republican candidate won in a landslide. The Florida Republican Party also expanded its majority in the state legislature and won 20 out of Florida's 28 U.S. House seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Alabama elections</span>

The 2022 Alabama elections were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. The primary elections were held on May 24, 2022, with runoffs taking place on June 21, 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 "Florida elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  2. Lily Hay Newman (August 27, 2020), "How to Vote by Mail and Make Sure It Counts", Wired.com , archived from the original on October 6, 2020
  3. Michael P. McDonald, "2020 General Election Early Vote Statistics", U.S. Elections Project, retrieved October 10, 2020, Detailed state statistics
  4. Foran, Clare (August 18, 2020). "Embattled Florida Republican congressman loses primary challenge, CNN projects". CNN. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  5. "Merit Retention Biographies". The Florida Bar. May 26, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Florida Department of State - Election Results 2020 General". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Florida Department of State. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  7. Wendy Underhill; Ben Williams (December 4, 2019), "Election Dates for Legislators and Governors Who Will Do Redistricting", Ncsl.org, Washington, D.C.: National Conference of State Legislatures
  8. "Supermajority Vote Requirements". NCSL. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  9. Landers, Rob (September 14, 2020). "Florida Amendments 2020: Amendment 1 requires 'only a' citizen can vote. What it means". Florida Today. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  10. Landers, Rob (August 19, 2020). "Florida Amendments 2020: Amendment 2 raises minimum wage to $15 from $8.56 by 2026". Florida Today. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  11. Aboraya, Abe (September 15, 2020). "What Is Florida's Amendment 3, The All Voters Vote In Primary Elections?". WUSF Public Media. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  12. Aboraya, Abe (September 16, 2020). "What Is Florida's Amendment 4, The Voter Approval Of Constitutional Amendments?". WUSF. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 Civiqs/Daily Kos
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 University of North Florida
  15. 1 2 St. Leo University Polling Institute
  16. 1 2 St. Pete Polls
  17. 1 2 Monmouth University
  18. 1 2 Florida Atlantic University
  19. Ipsos/Pure Spectrum
  20. Emerson College
  21. 1 2 3 Cherry Communications/Florida Chamber of Commerce
  22. 1 2 3 St. Pete Polls
  23. 1 2 Monmouth University
  24. 1 2 St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics
  25. 1 2 St. Pete Polls
  26. St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics
  27. 1 2 St. Pete Polls
  28. "Covered Areas for Voting Rights Bilingual Election Materials—2015", Voting Rights Act Amendments of 2006, Determinations Under Section 203, Federal Register , retrieved October 13, 2020, A Notice by the Census Bureau on 12/05/2016

Further reading