2018 Florida Senate election

In the elections to the Florida State Senate that were held on November 6, 2018, 20 of the 40 seats were contested in regular elections and two seats in special elections. The winners of the 20 regular elections will serve four year terms from November 6, 2018 to November 6, 2022, and the winners of the two special elections will serve two year terms from November 6, 2018 to November 6, 2020.

2018 Florida Senate election
November 6, 2018
20 of the 40 seats in the Florida Senate
(and 2 special elections)
21 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Wilton Simpson Oscar Braynon
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since November 29, 2016 November 21, 2016
Leader's seat 10th 35th
Seats before 22 16
Seats after 23 17
Seat change 1 1
Popular vote 2,044,404 1,731,716
Percentage 53.99% 45.74%
Seats up 14 6
  Republican 70%-80%
  Republican 60%-70%
  Republican 50%-60%
  Republican 40%-50%
  No election
  Democratic 40%-50%
  Democratic 50%-60%
  Democratic 90%-100%
Majority Leader before election

Wilton Simpson
Republican

 Elected Majority Leader

Kathleen Passidomo
Republican

Results summary

Statewide
Vacant Total
Republican Democratic
Last election (2016) 25 15 0 40
Before these elections 22 16 0 40
Not up 8 10 0 18
Odd (2016→2020) 8 10 0 18
Up 14 6 2 22
Even (2018→2022) 14 6 0 20
Special: Odd 0 0 2 2
Result 23 17 0 40

Retiring Incumbents

(There were no Democrats term limited from their seats)

  • Dorothy Hukill District 14 (Retiring, later deceased)
  • Jack Latvala District 16 (term limited, resigned due to sexual harassment allegations)
  • Greg Steube District 23 (retiring, ran for CD-17)
  • Joe Negron District 25 (term limited)
  • Denise Grimsley District 26 (retiring, ran for Agricultural Commissioner
  • Rene Garcia District 36 (term limited)

Districts
District Republican Democratic Others Total Margin Result [1]
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
District 2 149,157 75.3 48,979 24.7 - - 198,136 100,178 50.6 REP Hold
District 4 149,347 63.4 80,598 34.2 5,514 2.3 235,459 68,749 29.2 REP Hold
District 6 - - - - - - - - - DEM Hold
District 8 100,690 49.4 98,692 48.4 4,319 2.1 203,701 1,998 1.0 REP Hold
District 10 147,601 65.0 79,349 35.0 - - 226,950 68,252 30.1 REP Hold
District 12 172,776 65.3 91,765 34.7 21 0.0 264,562 81,011 30.6 REP Hold
District 14 124,055 56.3 96,161 43.7 - - 220,216 27,894 12.7 REP Hold
District 16 111,997 52.2 102,407 47.8 - - 214,404 9,590 4.5 REP Hold
District 18 103,667 49.9 104,078 50.1 - - 207,745 411 0.2 DEM Gain
District 20 101,021 53.5 87,863 46.5 - - 188,884 13,158 7.0 REP Hold
District 22 105,575 52.8 94,295 47.2 - - 199,870 11,280 5.6 REP Hold
District 23 143,346 56.5 110,587 43.4 - - 253,933 32,759 12.9 REP Gain
District 24 116,415 54.3 98,104 45.7 - - 214,519 18,311 8.5 REP Hold
District 25 117,056 54.3 98,417 45.7 - - 215,473 18,639 8.7 REP Gain
District 26 117,979 65.1 63,253 34.9 - - 181,232 54,726 30.2 REP Hold
District 28 138,293 64.5 73,000 34.5 - - 211,293 65,293 30.9 REP Hold
District 30 - - 132,241 99.7 385 0.3 132,626 131,858 99.4 DEM Hold
District 32 - - - - - - - - - DEM Hold
District 34 - - 124,578 100.0 0 0.0 124,578 124,578 100.0 DEM Hold
District 36 66,361 54.1 56,395 45.9 - - 122,756 9,966 8.1 REP Hold
District 38 - - - - - - - - - DEM Hold
District 40 79,068 46.5 90,924 53.5 - - 169,992 11,856 7.0 DEM Hold

District 2

District 2 consists of Bay, Holmes, Jackson, Walton, Washington, and part of Okaloosa counties. Incumbent George Gainer was re-elected by a margin of 51 percent.

Republican primary

Incumbent George Gainer won the primary unopposed.

Democratic primary

Attorney Gigi Gibson won the primary unopposed.

Predictions

MCI Maps gave the second district a rating of "Safe GOP".[2]

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Gainer (incumbent) 149,157 75.3
Democratic "Gigi" Gibson 48,979 24.7
Majority 100,178 50.6
Total votes 198,136 100.0

District 4

District 4 consists of Nassau and part of Duval counties. Incumbent Aaron Bean was re-elected by a margin of 29 percent.

Republican primary

Incumbent Republican Aaron Bean defeated challenger Carlos E. Slay in the Republican primary by a margin of 75 percent.

Candidates
  • Aaron Bean, incumbent Florida Senator since 2012
  • Carlos E. Slay, former Nassau County tax collector candidate[3]

Primary results
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Aaron Bean (incumbent) 50,275 87.4
Republican Carlos E. Slay 7,274 12.6
Majority 43,001 74.7
Total votes 57,549 100.0

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Aaron Bean (incumbent) 149,347 63.4
Democratic Billee Bussard 80,598 34.2
Libertarian Joanna Liberty Tavares 5,514 2.3
Majority 68,749 29.2
Total votes 235,459 100.0

District 6

District 6 consists of part of Duval county. Incumbent Audrey Gibson was re-elected unopposed.

District 8

District 8 consists of Alachua, Putnam, and part of Marion counties. Incumbent Keith Perry was re-elected by a margin of one percent.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Perry (incumbent) 100,690 49.4
Democratic Kayser Enneking 98,692 48.4
Independent Charles E. Goston 4,319 2.1
Majority 1,998 1.0
Total votes 203,701 100.0

District 10

District 10 consists of Citrus, Hernando and part of Pasco counties. Incumbent Wilton Simpson was re-elected by a margin of 30 percent.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wilton Simpson (incumbent) 147,601 65.0
Democratic Michael Cottrell 79,349 35.0
Majority 68,252 30.1
Total votes 226,950 100.0

District 12

District 12 consists of Sumter, and parts of Lake, and Marion counties. Incumbent Dennis Baxley was re-elected by a margin of 31 percent.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dennis Baxley (incumbent) 172,776 65.3
Democratic Gary McKechnie 91,765 34.7
Write-in Kay Gray 21 0.0
Majority 81,011 30.6
Total votes 264,562 100.0

District 14

District 14 consists of parts of Brevard and Volusia counties. Incumbent state senator Dorothy Hukill, Republican, died in October 2018 due to cervical cancer. As her name was already printed on ballots, votes cast for her were counted for Tom A. Wright, the Republican nominee, who won the election by a margin of 13 percent.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom A. Wright 124,055 56.3
Democratic "Mel" Martin 96,161 43.7
Majority 27,894 12.7
Total votes 220,216 100.0

District 16

District 16 consists of parts of Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Candidates

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed Hooper 35,303 79.4
Republican Leo Karruli 9,141 20.6
Majority 26,162 58.9
Total votes 44,444 100.0

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed Hooper 111,997 52.2
Democratic Amanda Murphy 102,407 47.8
Majority 9,590 4.5
Total votes 214,404 100.0

District 18

District 18 consists of part of Hillsborough county.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Janet Cruz 104,078 50.1
Republican Dana Young (incumbent) 103,667 49.9
Majority 411 0.2
Total votes 207,745 100.0

District 20

District 20 consists of parts of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk counties.

Candidates
  • Tom Lee, incumbent Senator since 2012 and from 1996 to 2006, former Senate President from 2004 to 2006
  • John Manners Houman, Republican nominee for Florida Senate in 2016

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Lee (incumbent) 30,397 84.9
Republican John Manners Houman 5,422 15.1
Majority 13,158 69.7
Total votes 35,819 100.0

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Lee (incumbent) 101,021 53.5
Democratic Kathy Lewis 87,863 46.5
Majority 13,158 7.0
Total votes 188,884 100.0

District 22

District 22 consists of parts of Lake and Polk counties.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kelli Stargel (incumbent) 105,575 52.8
Democratic Bob Doyel 94,295 47.2
Majority 11,280 5.6
Total votes 199,870 100.0

District 23

District 23 consists of Sarasota and part of Charlotte counties. An election for this district was not scheduled to occur until the 2020 general elections, but a special election was scheduled concurrent with the 2018 general elections due to a vacancy that occurred as a result of the resignation of then-state senator Greg Steube to run for the United States House of Representatives.[2][6]

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Gruters 143,346 56.5
Democratic Faith Olivia Babis 110,587 43.5
Majority 32,759 12.9
Total votes 253,933 100.0

District 24

District 24 consists of part of Pinellas county.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Brandes (incumbent) 116,415 54.3
Democratic Lindsay Cross 98,104 45.7
Majority 18,311 8.5
Total votes 214,519 100.0

District 25

District 25 consists of Martin, St. Lucie and part of Palm Beach counties. An election for this district was not scheduled to occur until the 2020 general elections, but a special election was scheduled concurrent with the 2018 general elections due to a vacancy that occurred as a result of the resignation of former Senate President Joe Negron.[2][6]

Candidates

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gayle Harrell 117,056 54.3
Democratic Robert Levy 98,417 45.7
Majority 18,639 8.7
Total votes 215,473 100.0

District 26

District 26 consists of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee, and parts of Charlotte, Lee, and Polk counties.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ben Albritton 117,979 65.1
Democratic Catherine Price 63,253 34.9
Majority 54,726 30.2
Total votes 181,232 100.0

District 28

District 28 consists of Collier, Hendry and part of Lee counties.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kathleen Passidomo (incumbent) 138,293 65.5
Democratic Annisa Karim 73,000 34.5
Majority 65,293 30.9
Total votes 211,293 100.0

District 30

District 30 consists of part of Palm Beach county.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bobby Powell (incumbent) 132,241 99.7
Write-in Josh Santos 385 0.3
Majority 131,856 99.4
Total votes 132,626 100.0

District 32

District 32 consists of part of Broward county. Incumbent Lauren Book was elected unposed both in the primary and general election.

District 34

District 34 consists of part of Broward county.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gary Farmer (incumbent) 124,578 100.0
Write-in Richard Hal Sturm 0 0.0
Majority 124,578 100.0
Total votes 124,578 100.0

District 36

District 36 consists of part of Miami-Dade county.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Manny Díaz Jr. 66,361 54.1
Democratic David Perez 56,395 45.9
Majority 9,966 8.1
Total votes 122,756 100.0

District 38

District 38 consists of part of Miami-Dade county. Democrat Jason Pizzo beat incumbent Daphne Campbell in the democratic primary, 54%-46%. The general election was cancelled meaning Pizzo was the victor of the race.[8]

District 40

District 40 consists of part of Miami-Dade county.

Results
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Annette Taddeo (incumbent) 90,924 53.5
Republican Marili Cancio 79,068 46.5
Majority 11,856 7.0
Total votes 169,992 100.0

Notes

    References
    1. Florida Department of State (2019). "November 6, 2018 General Election: Official Results". results.elections.myflorida.com. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
    2. Isbell, Matthew (August 16, 2018). "Florida State Senate Rankings". MCI Maps. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
    3. Gancarski, A. G. "Aaron Bean to face Carlos Slay in GOP primary, then two candidates in general election". Retrieved January 1, 2019.
    4. "Ed Hooper". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
    5. Perry, Mitch. "Restaurateur Leo Karruli files to run for Jack Latvala's Senate seat". Retrieved May 25, 2019.
    6. The Florida Legislature (January 12, 2019). "Constitution of the State of Florida". www.leg.state.fl.us. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
    7. "Belinda Keiser". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
    8. https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_State_Senate_District_38
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