2026 United States Senate special election in Florida
{{short description|none}}
{{for|related races|2026 United States Senate elections}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2026 United States Senate special election in Florida
| country = Florida
| type = presidential
| ongoing = yes
| previous_election = 2022 United States Senate election in Florida
| previous_year = 2022
| next_election = 2028 United States Senate election in Florida
| next_year = 2028
| election_date = November 3, 2026
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Ashley Moody{{efn|Marco Rubio, the three-term senator of Florida, was nominated by President Donald Trump to be the United States Secretary of State in his second cabinet. On January 20, 2025, he was confirmed by the Senate as Secretary of State and subsequently resigned his seat. Governor Ron DeSantis has chosen Ashley Moody to replace him.}}
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Elections in Florida}}
The 2026 United States Senate special election in Florida is expected to be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Florida, to fill in the last two years of former Republican senator Marco Rubio’s term, who resigned his seat to become United States secretary of state under President Donald Trump's second administration.{{Cite web |last=Beggin |first=Riley |title=Trump taps Marco Rubio for Secretary of State |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/11/13/trump-marco-rubio-secretary-state/76198371007/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}
According to Florida law, if a U.S. Senate seat becomes vacant, the governor has authority to appoint a temporary replacement until the next general election. The appointee holds the position until the vacancy is filled by a special election during the next general election cycle, which, in this case, is scheduled for November 3, 2026.{{Cite web |title=Chapter 100 Section 161 - 2024 Florida Statutes |url=https://m.flsenate.gov/Statutes/100.161 |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=m.flsenate.gov}} Governor Ron DeSantis chose Florida attorney general Ashley Moody to replace Rubio in the Senate.{{Cite news |title=Ron DeSantis picks Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill Rubio's Senate seat |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/ron-desantis-picks-florida-attorney-general-ashley-moody-fill-rubios-s-rcna187938 |date=January 16, 2025 |access-date=January 16, 2025 |work=NBC News |author=Dixon, Matt}}
This will be the first U.S. Senate special election in Florida since two elections in 1936.
Interim appointment
=Appointee=
- Ashley Moody, Florida attorney general (2019–2025)
=Considered but not appointed=
- Kat Cammack, U.S. representative from {{ushr|FL|3}} (2021–present)
- Jay Collins, state senator from the 14th district (2022–present)
- Laurel Lee, U.S. representative from {{ushr|FL|13}} (2023–present){{cite web|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/707466-laurel-lee-part-of-conversation-for-marco-rubios-senate-seat/|title=Laurel Lee part of conversation for Marco Rubio’s Senate seat|last=Ogles|first=Jacob|date=November 12, 2024|access-date=April 4, 2025|website=Florida Politics}}
- Cory Mills, U.S. representative from {{ushr|FL|7}} (2023–present)
- James Uthmeier, chief of staff to Governor Ron DeSantis (2021–2025)
=Declined to be considered=
- Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida (2019–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016{{cite web |last1=Gancarski |first1=A.G. |title='Absolutely not': Gov. DeSantis says he won't appoint himself to replace Marco Rubio in the Senate |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/714980-ron-desantis-senate-no/ |publisher=Florida Politics |access-date=11 January 2025 |date=11 January 2025}}
- Lara Trump, former co-chair of the Republican National Committee (2024–2025) and daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump{{Cite news |access-date=December 22, 2024 |url=https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/lara-trump-says-shes-removing-herself-from-consideration-to-be-florida-senator-republican-maga-marco-rubio-president-elect-donald-trump-rnc-co-chair-secretary-of-state-united-states-politics-ron-desantis-elon-musk |via=WPDE-TV |work=The Associated Press |title=Lara Trump removes herself from consideration for Florida Senate, ending speculation |date=December 22, 2024}}
Republican primary
=Candidates=
==Declared==
- Edward Lang, podcaster and participant in the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack{{cite news |last1=DeLuca |first1=Alex |title=Meet the January 6 Rioter Running for Marco Rubio's U.S. Senate Seat |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/january-6-rioter-jake-lang-is-running-for-marco-rubios-senate-seat-22641341 |access-date=March 12, 2025 |work=Miami New Times |date=March 12, 2025 |language=en}}
- Ashley Moody, incumbent U.S. senator (2025–present){{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Drew |date=March 20, 2025 |title=Ashley Moody’s Senate campaign touts clean sweep of GOP Sheriffs |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/727150-ashley-moodys-senate-campaign-touts-clean-sweep-of-gop-sheriffs/ |work=Florida Politics |access-date=April 3, 2025}}
==Publicly expressed interest==
- Kat Cammack, U.S. representative from {{ushr|FL|3}} (2021–present){{cite news |last1=Heddles |first1=Claire |title= Two of Florida's Congressional Republicans Are Publicly Angling for a Senate Seat |url= https://www.notus.org/florida/kat-cammack-cory-mills-florida-senate |access-date=January 13, 2025 |work=Florida Politics |date=January 13, 2025}}
- Matt Gaetz, former U.S. representative from {{ushr|FL|1}} (2017–2024){{Cite news |work=Mediaite |access-date=December 22, 2024 |date=December 22, 2024 |author=Jones, Kipp |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/matt-gaetz-floats-senate-run-while-calling-out-gop-lawmakers-who-opposed-him-for-ag/ |title=Matt Gaetz Floats Senate Run While Calling Out GOP Lawmakers Who Opposed Him for AG}}
- Cory Mills, U.S. representative from {{ushr|FL|7}} (2023–present){{cite news |last1=Ogles |first1=Jacob |title=Cory Mills plans to run for U.S. Senate in 2026 anyway — even if he isn't appointed |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/715101-cory-mills-plans-to-run-for-u-s-senate-in-2026-whether-he-gets-appointed-to-marco-rubios-seat-or-not/ |access-date=January 11, 2025 |work=Florida Politics |date=January 11, 2025}}{{cite news |work=Politico |access-date=April 1, 2025 |author=Leonard, Kimberly |date=March 31, 2025 |title=Democrats' Florida Sixth sense |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/florida-playbook/2025/03/31/democrats-florida-sixth-sense-00260047 |quote=Rep. CORY MILLS (R-Fla.) told Playbook over the weekend that he was still 'eyeballing the seat' for Senate that will be up for election in 2026. |language=en-US}}
= Endorsements =
{{Endorsements box
|title=Ashley Moody
|list=
;U.S. senators
- Rick Scott, U.S. senator from Florida (2019–present){{cite web |last1=Gancarski |first1=A.G. |title=Rick Scott endorses Ashley Moody in 2026 Senate race |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/728811-scott-endorses-moody/ |publisher=Florida Politics |access-date=28 March 2025 |date=28 March 2025}}
;U.S. representatives
- Vern Buchanan, U.S. representative from {{ushr|FL|16}} (2013–present){{cite news |last1=Leonard |first1=Kimberly |last2=Domínguez |first2=Isa |title=Donalds faces the anti-DOGE music |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/florida-playbook/2025/04/22/donalds-faces-the-anti-doge-music-00302350 |access-date=April 22, 2025 |work=Politico |date=April 22, 2025 |language=en}}
- Laurel Lee, U.S. representative from Florida's 15th congressional district (2023–present){{cite web|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/730354-an-exceptional-leader-laurel-lee-wants-ashley-moody-to-remain-in-the-senate/|title='An exceptional leader': Laurel Lee wants Ashley Moody to remain in the Senate|last=Ogles|first=Jacob|date=April 4, 2025|access-date=April 4, 2025|website=Florida Politics}}
;Multi-county officials
- 15 state attorneys{{cite web |last=Ogles |first=Jacob |date=March 19, 2025 |title=Every Republican State Attorney in Florida endorses Ashley Moody’s re-election to U.S. Senate |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/726946-every-republican-state-attorney-in-florida-endorses-ashley-moody/ |work=Florida Politics |access-date=April 3, 2025}}
;County officials
- Ric Bradshaw, Palm Beach County sheriff
- Mike Chitwood, Volusia County sheriff
- Chad Chronister, Hillsborough County sheriff
- Rosie Cordero-Stutz, Miami-Dade County sheriff
- Bob Gualtieri, Pinellas County sheriff
- Grady Judd, Polk County sheriff
- Dennis Lemma, Seminole County sheriff
- John Mina, Orange County sheriff
- T. K. Waters, Duval County sheriff
- Morris A. Young, Gadsden County sheriff
- 54 other county sheriffs
;Organizations
- Maggie's List{{cite web |title=Maggie’s List Announces First Round of 2026 Senate Endorsements |url=https://maggieslist.org/press/maggies-list-announces-first-round-of-2026-senate-endorsements |website=maggieslist.org |publisher=Maggie's List |access-date=March 27, 2025}}
}}
=Fundraising=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| colspan=4 |Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2025 |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"
!Candidate !Raised !Spent !Cash on hand |
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Jake Lang (R)
|$28,404 |$26,938 |$1,467 |
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Ashley Moody (R)
|$417,680 |$7,801 |$409,879 |
| colspan="4" |Source: Federal Election Commission{{cite web |title=2026 Election United States Senate - Florida |url=https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/senate/FL/2026/ |website=fec.gov |publisher=Federal Election Commission |access-date=April 23, 2025}} |
Democratic primary
= Candidates =
== Declared ==
- Tamika Lyles, mother, veteran, teacher, small business owner, advocate, and founding chair of the Osceola County Democratic Black Caucus{{Cite web |title=Meet Tamika |url=https://www.tamikalyles.com/meet-tamika |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Lyles for U.S. Senate |language=en}}
- Alex Gould, U.S. Senate intern{{Cite web |last=kmh182 |date=2021-08-30 |title=Spartan Showcase: Alex Gould |url=https://thedaily.case.edu/spartan-showcase-alex-gould/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=The Daily |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Candidate Tracking system - Florida Division of Elections - Department of State |url=https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/candidates/CanDetail.asp?account=89158 |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=dos.elections.myflorida.com}}
== Declined ==
- Jared Moskowitz, U.S. representative from {{ushr|FL|23}} (2023–present){{cite news |last1=Solender |first1=Andrew |title=Scoop: A huge wave of House members is eyeing runs for other offices in 2026 |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/11/27/house-members-running-for-senate-governor-2026 |access-date=November 27, 2024 |work=Axios |date=November 27, 2024 |language=en}} (running for re-election){{Cite web |date=2024-12-17 |title=Moskowitz brushes aside FEMA reports |url=https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/17/congress/moskowitz-brushes-aside-fema-reports-00194853 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Politico |author=Adragna, Anthony |quote='I am staying in Congress and running for re-election,' Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said |language=en}}
Independents
= Candidates =
== Declined ==
- John Morgan, lawyer and founder of Morgan & Morgan{{cite news |last1=Perano |first1=Ursula |last2=Diaz |first2=Daniella |title=Do Democrats Even Believe They Can Win Senate Seats in Florida and Texas? |url=https://www.notus.org/2026-election/democrats-senate-seats-florida-texas |access-date=April 23, 2025 |work=NOTUS |date=April 23, 2025}}
General election
= Predictions =
| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
!Source !Ranking !As of |
| align="left" |Inside Elections{{Cite web |title=Senate Ratings |url=https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=Inside Elections |language=en}}
| {{USRaceRating|Solid|R}} |Feb 20, 2025 |
| align="left" |The Cook Political Report{{Cite web |title=2026 CPR Senate Race Ratings|url=https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings |access-date=February 11, 2025 |website=Cook Political Report }}
| {{USRaceRating|Solid|R}} |Feb 13, 2025 |
| align="left"|Sabato's Crystal Ball{{cite web |title=2026 Senate ratings |url=https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2026-senate/ |website=Sabato's Crystal Ball |access-date=February 13, 2025}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}} |Mar 12, 2025 |
| align="left"|Race To The WH{{Cite web |title=2026 Senate Forecast |url=https://www.racetothewh.com/senate/26 |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Race to the WH }}
|{{USRaceRating|Lean|R}} |Apr 27, 2025 |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
;Official campaign websites
- [https://ashleymoody.com/ Ashley Moody (R) for Senate]
{{2026 United States elections}}