2026 Florida elections

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2026 Florida elections
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The 2026 Florida elections will be held in the state of Florida on November 3, 2026, alongside the nationwide midterm elections. Elections will be held for a U.S. Senate seat and governor as well as all 28 of the state's U.S. House of Representatives seats, most statewide offices, all 120 seats in the Florida House of Representatives, and 20 of 40 seats in the Florida Senate. Primary elections will be held on August 18, 2026. [1]

Contents

A former swing state, Florida has trended significantly towards the Republican Party since 2020. [2] [3] [4] Donald Trump held on to Florida in 2020 after previously flipping it in 2016, making gains primarily amongst Cuban voters. [5] [6] In 2022, Republicans swept the state, winning every statewide office for the first time since Reconstruction. [7] Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the state by 13.1% in 2024, flipping traditionally Democratic Miami-Dade County, which includes the city of Miami. [8] [9]

Federal

United States Senate

A special election will be held to elect a member of the United States Senate for the remainder of Marco Rubio's term, who resigned in January 2025 following his appointment as the United States Secretary of State. [10] Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was appointed to the seat by Governor Ron DeSantis following Rubio's resignation and was sworn in on January 21, 2025. [11]

Moody is running to fill the remainder of the term. [12] She is being challenged in the Republican primary by podcaster and January 6th rioter Jake Lang. [13]

Former United States representative Alan Grayson has filed paperwork to run for the Democratic primary. [14] Mayor Jerry Demings, U.S. representative Jared Moskowitz, state representative Angie Nixon, and whistleblower Alexander Vindman have expressed interest in running for the Democratic primary. [15] [16] [17] [18]

United States House of Representatives

All of Florida's 28 seats in the United States House of Representatives are up for election in 2026. Members of the United States House of Representatives serve two year terms. [19]

Following the 2024 elections, Republicans control 20 seats, and Democrats control 8. [20] The Florida Legislature is considering redistricting the state's congressional map for 2026, which would be expected to favor Republicans. [21] [22] [23]

State executive

Governor

Incumbent Republican governor Ron DeSantis, who was re-elected with 59.4% of the vote in 2022, is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office. [24]

Surfside mayor Charles Burkett, United States representative Byron Donalds, and former Florida House speaker Paul Renner are running for the Republican nomination. [25] [26] [27] Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins is publicly considering a run for the Republican nomination. [28]

Former United States representative David Jolly is running for the Democratic nomination. [29] Mayor Jerry Demings, former United States representative Al Lawson and state representative Angie Nixon are considering runs for the Democratic nomination. [15] [30] [17] Jason Pizzo is running as an independent and is endorsed by No Labels. [31] [32]

Attorney General

Republican attorney general Ashley Moody, who was re-elected with 60.6% of the vote in 2022, resigned on January 21, 2025, following her appointment to the United States Senate. [11] Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Republican Chief of Staff James Uthmeier to serve the remainder of Moody's term. [33] He is running for a full term in 2026. [34]

Interim Punta Gorda city attorney Steven Leskovich has filed paperwork to challenge Uthmeier for the Republican nomination. [35] Former state senator José Javier Rodríguez, who served as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training during the Joe Biden administration, is running for the Democratic nomination. [36]

Chief Financial Officer

Republican CFO Jimmy Patronis, who was re-elected with 59.5% of the vote in 2022, resigned on March 31, 2025, to run in a special election for Florida's 1st congressional district. [37] Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Republican state senator Blaise Ingoglia to serve the remainder of Patronis's term. [38] He is running for a full term in 2026. [39]

Businessman Frank Collige and former state senate candidate Benjamin Horbowy are challenging Ingoglia for the nomination. [40] [41] Republican National Committee chair and state senator Joe Gruters initially ran for the Republican nomination, but dropped out of the race in August 2025. [42]

Commissioner of Agriculture

Incumbent Republican commissioner Wilton Simpson was first elected in 2022 with 59.3% of the vote. He is eligible to run for a second term in office but has not yet announced if he will do so. [43]

State legislative

State Senate

20 of 40 seats in the Florida Senate, specifically even numbered districts, are up for election in 2026. [43]

State House of Representatives

All 120 seats in the Florida House of Representatives are up for election in 2026. [43]

References

  1. ↑ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". National Conference of State Legislatures. September 26, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  2. ↑ Mazzei, Patricia (October 29, 2024). "Florida Stopped Being a Swing State Slowly, Then All at Once" . The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  3. ↑ Neely, Samantha (November 4, 2024). "Is Florida a swing state? What to know ahead of Election Day on Tuesday" . Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  4. ↑ Wieffering, Helen (October 31, 2024). "What to expect in Florida on Election Day". PBS News. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  5. ↑ Washington, Wayne; Persaud, Chris (November 8, 2020). "Inside Democrats' Florida flop: Turnout, rural success propelled Trump in Sunshine State". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  6. ↑ Dixon, Matt (November 4, 2020). "Trump keeps Florida in his column". POLITICO. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  7. ↑ Kennedy, John (November 8, 2022). "Florida's purple state image fades to red after Republicans sweep. Here's what it means" . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Former President Trump defeats Harris by wide margin in Florida, claiming state's 30 electoral votes". FOX 35 Orlando. November 5, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  9. ↑ Slodysko, Brian (November 5, 2024). "Why AP called Florida for Trump". Associated Press. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  10. ↑ Mower, Lawrence (January 16, 2025). "With Marco Rubio leaving the U.S. Senate, Florida's governor announces his replacement" . Miami Herald. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Perry, Mitch (January 21, 2025). "Ashley Moody sworn in as U.S. senator, while Marco Rubio takes over at State". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  12. ↑ Wilson, Drew (March 20, 2025). "Ashley Moody's Senate campaign touts clean sweep of GOP Sheriffs". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  13. ↑ DeLuca, Alex (March 12, 2025). "Meet the January 6 Rioter Running for Marco Rubio's U.S. Senate Seat". Miami New Times. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  14. ↑ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1890144". Federal Election Commission. April 24, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  15. 1 2 Leonard, Kimberly (August 5, 2025). "Jerry Demings floats trial balloon". POLITICO. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  16. ↑ Perry, Mitch (September 4, 2025). "Jared Moskowitz says he's not looking at Senate run; hopes he's not forced to". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  17. 1 2 Gancarski, A.G. (September 25, 2025). "'Change can't wait': Angie Nixon explores run for Senate". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  18. ↑ DeFede, Jim (May 16, 2025). "Trump whistleblower Alexander Vindman eyeing Florida Senate run". CBS News. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  19. ↑ "About Congress". U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  20. ↑ de Guzman, Chad (August 25, 2025). "After Texas and California, These States Are Also Considering Redistricting". TIME. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Why Florida is revisiting its congressional map, and what it could mean for 2026". CBS News. August 8, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  22. ↑ Kennedy, John (September 11, 2025). "Is Florida next? State GOP leaders respond to Trump's call for redistricting" . Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  23. ↑ Fineout, Gary (August 7, 2025). "Florida moves toward joining national redistricting push". POLITICO. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  24. ↑ Wilson, Kirby (June 23, 2025). "Who's running for Florida governor in 2026? We check in on the race" . Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  25. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (March 31, 2025). "Charles Burkett, Surfside's 4-term Mayor, says he's running for Governor". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  26. ↑ Matat, Stephany (February 25, 2025). "Rep. Byron Donalds, backed by Trump, says he's running for Florida governor". Associated Press. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  27. ↑ Gancarski, A.G. (September 3, 2025). "Paul Renner, former Florida House speaker, announces run for Governor". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  28. ↑ Gancarski, A.G. (May 29, 2025). "'Incredible': Jay Collins addresses potential 2026 run for Governor". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  29. ↑ Leonard, Kimberly (June 5, 2025). "Well-known Trump critic David Jolly enters race for Florida governor". POLITICO. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  30. ↑ Rosica, Jim (August 2, 2025). "Former US Rep. Al Lawson of Tallahassee eyes Florida governor race in 2026" . Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  31. ↑ Fineout, Gary (May 9, 2025). "After dramatic Democratic Party exit, Pizzo says he's running for Florida governor". POLITICO. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Is it time to break the two-party doom loop?". No Labels. June 7, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  33. ↑ Matat, Stephany; Payne, Kate (February 17, 2025). "Gov. Ron DeSantis' former chief of staff James Uthmeier sworn in as Florida's attorney general". Associated Press. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  34. ↑ Irwin Taylor, Janelle (March 10, 2025). "James Uthmeier to officially kick off AG campaign". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  35. ↑ Wood, Tristan (July 3, 2025). ""Alligator Alcatraz" a political boost for AG Uthmeier, Florida politicos say". WFSU. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  36. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (June 2, 2025). "José Javier Rodríguez launches bid for Attorney General, vows to 'root out corruption'". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  37. ↑ Rohrer, Gray (April 1, 2025). "Gov. DeSantis says he'll name interim Florida CFO soon, now that Patronis has departed" . Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  38. ↑ Russon, Gabrielle (July 16, 2025). "Ignoring Donald Trump, Gov. DeSantis taps Blaise Ingoglia as CFO". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  39. ↑ Ogles, Jacob (September 2, 2025). "Blaise Ingoglia launches campaign for a full term as CFO". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  40. ↑ Ogles, Jacob (January 14, 2025). "'Joe knows what it takes to get the job done': Daniel Perez backs Joe Gruters for CFO". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  41. ↑ Ogles, Jacob (June 4, 2024). "Joe Gruters quietly files for Chief Financial Officer in 2026". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  42. ↑ Russell, Ty (August 28, 2025). "RNC Chair Gruters to remain in Florida senate but bow out of CFO race". WFLA 8. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  43. 1 2 3 "Offices Up for Election and Retention in 2026". Florida Division of Elections. April 14, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
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