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Florida's 15th Congressional District election, 2026
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← 2024
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| Florida's 15th Congressional District |
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| General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: April 24, 2026 |
| Primary: August 18, 2026 General: November 3, 2026 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times:
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Race ratings |
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
| See also |
1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th • 15th • 16th • 17th • 18th • 19th • 20th • 21st • 22nd • 23rd • 24th • 25th • 26th • 27th • 28th Florida elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 |
All U.S. House districts, including the 15th Congressional District of Florida, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.
Candidates and election results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House Florida District 15
Incumbent Laurel Lee, Jose Engell, Darren McAuley, Kimberly Overman, and Robert People are running in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 15 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Laurel Lee (R) | ||
Jose Engell (D) ![]() | ||
| Darren McAuley (D) | ||
Kimberly Overman (D) ![]() | ||
Robert People (D) ![]() | ||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "My name is Jose Engell, I go by Joe, I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, have been living in Tampa for 10 years, I’m Gen Z, and I’m tired of having mediocre politicians. I’m running to fight for a better society for all of us. I’m running for my mom, for my grandpa, for my family, for my friends, for my neighbors, for everyone in my district, for my generation and every other generation. I’m young but I mean business, I’m ready to fight."
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Kimberly D. Overman is a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Florida's 15th District, emphasizing bold and compassionate leadership focused on working families, sustainable growth, and equitable opportunities. Her campaign highlights her extensive experience in public service, community advocacy, and economic insight, along with a deep personal commitment to issues that affect her constituents. Experienced public servant: Kimberly served as a Hillsborough County Commissioner, championing affordable housing, transportation equity, and public health, combining financial planning expertise with grassroots engagement. Core values driving leadership: She is motivated by passion for community improvement, commitment during crises, willingness to learn and collaborate, and resilience through challenges. Congressional priorities: Her focus areas include affordable housing and economic justice, climate action, healthcare access with mental health services, reproductive rights, and education and workforce development. Personal background and motivation: Raised in a working-class family facing housing insecurity, Kimberly's life experiences shaped her dedication to economic equity, healthcare access, and inclusive communities, fueling her commitment to proactive and accountable leadership. “I’m running for Congress because our communities deserve bold, compassionate leadership that listens, learns, and leads with integrity. I"
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I am 46 years old and a retired Army veteran. I served for 21 years and am running for Congress because I want to continue public service. I have spoken many times over the years about the changes that need to happen in this country and I no longer want to remain on the sidelines. I want to be part of the solution."
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Florida
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
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Jose Engell (D)
I want to fight for universal healthcare, medicare for all, however you want to call it. We’re the only first world country without it and it’s ridiculous, no one should go bankrupt because of medical bills nor should be afraid of going to the hospital. It’s time that we raise our standards of living.
I also want to fight for paid maternity leave, we’re the only first world country without it and it would help encourage people to have children by reducing financial stress. And also, make sure that we protect social security that our senior citizens, like my grandpa, rely on to live.
Kimberly Overman (D)
With decades of experience in financial planning and civic engagement, Kimberly brings a unique blend of economic insight and grassroots passion to the table. Her leadership is grounded in listening to the people she serves and building coalitions to solve real problems.
Core Values
Passion: Kimberly is deeply committed to improving lives in Central Florida—from affordable healthcare to climate resilience.
Motivation: Her drive comes from decades of service and a belief that government should work for everyone, not just the wealthy few.
Commitment: Whether leading during hurricanes or a pandemic, Kimberly has shown up for her community with courage and consistency.
Willingness to Learn: She believes in evidence-based policy and listening to diverse voices to shape better outcomes. Kimberly knows that change is a team effort. She builds strong partnerships across sectors and communities.
Thick Skin: She’s faced tough elections and public scrutiny—and emerged more determined to serve.
Priorities for Congress:
- Economy & Inflation
- Affordable Housing & Economic Justice
- Climate Action & Resilient Infrastructure
- Healthcare Access & Mental Health Services -
- Reproductive Rights & Gender Equity
- Public Education & Workforce Development
- Veterans & Military Support
Robert People (D)
I want to propose placing more attention on women's reproductive and health rights. I want to start by reversing the harmful policies in place, especially regarding abortion. Also, women have such problems when dealing with medical issues and I want to propose fixing these issues so women are not be treated or viewed as men (since we are the default for just about everything).
I want to propose increasing teacher salaries nationwide. It will start with District 15, and I will focus on the county school budgets to shift funds from wasteful spending to paying teachers what they deserve.
Jose Engell (D)
Kimberly Overman (D)
I’ve seen what it’s like to live without health insurance and to worry about whether a medical bill will mean skipping rent. That’s why I’ve made economic equity a cornerstone of my public service.
I’ve also seen how the government can fall short—whether in the wake of a hurricane, a housing crisis, or a public health emergency. I believe we deserve leaders who roll up their sleeves and get to work for the people they represent.Robert People (D)
Jose Engell (D)
Robert People (D)
Robert People (D)
Jose Engell (D)
Kimberly Overman (D)
Robert People (D)
Jose Engell (D)
Robert People (D)
Jose Engell (D)
Kimberly Overman (D)
Robert People (D)
Jose Engell (D)
Robert People (D)
Kimberly Overman (D)
Robert People (D)
Robert People (D)
Robert People (D)
Robert People (D)
Robert People (D)
Robert People (D)
Jose Engell (D)
Kimberly Overman (D)
Robert People (D)
Kimberly Overman (D)
Robert People (D)
Jose Engell (D)
Kimberly Overman (D)
Robert People (D)
Jose Engell (D)
Kimberly Overman (D)
Robert People (D)
Jose Engell (D)
Robert People (D)
Robert People (D)
Robert People (D)
Kimberly Overman (D)
Robert People (D)
Robert People (D)
Robert People (D)
Jose Engell (D)
Robert People (D)
Jose Engell (D)
Robert People (D)
You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:
Campaign finance
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Lee | Republican Party | $960,974 | $298,308 | $1,097,437 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Jose Engell | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Darren McAuley | Democratic Party | $207,922 | $53,853 | $154,069 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Kimberly Overman | Democratic Party | $35,755 | $22,934 | $12,821 | As of September 30, 2025 |
| Robert People | Democratic Party | $15,829 | $11,794 | $4,034 | As of September 30, 2025 |
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Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]
| Race ratings: Florida's 15th Congressional District election, 2026 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| 10/21/2025 | 10/14/2025 | 10/7/2025 | 9/30/2025 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| Decision Desk HQ and The Hill | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week. | |||||||||
Ballot access
This section will contain information on ballot access related to this state's elections when it is available.
District history
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.
2024
See also: Florida's 15th Congressional District election, 2024
Florida's 15th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 20 Republican primary)
Florida's 15th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 20 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Florida District 15
Incumbent Laurel Lee defeated Pat Kemp in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 15 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Laurel Lee (R) | 56.2 | 195,334 | |
| Pat Kemp (D) | 43.8 | 152,361 | ||
| Total votes: 347,695 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Alexander Peterson (No Party Affiliation)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Pat Kemp advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 15.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kris Fitzgerald (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 15
Incumbent Laurel Lee defeated James Judge and Jennifer Barbosa in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 15 on August 20, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Laurel Lee | 72.3 | 28,571 | |
James Judge ![]() | 18.1 | 7,137 | ||
Jennifer Barbosa ![]() | 9.6 | 3,809 | ||
| Total votes: 39,517 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brian Perras (R)
2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Florida District 15
Laurel Lee defeated Alan Cohn in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 15 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Laurel Lee (R) | 58.5 | 145,219 | |
| Alan Cohn (D) | 41.5 | 102,835 | ||
| Total votes: 248,054 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brian Bertges (No Party Affiliation)
- Josue Vazquez (No Party Affiliation)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 15
Alan Cohn defeated Gavin Brown, Eddie Geller, Cesar Ramirez, and William VanHorn in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 15 on August 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Alan Cohn | 33.1 | 14,928 | |
Gavin Brown ![]() | 22.3 | 10,034 | ||
Eddie Geller ![]() | 21.9 | 9,859 | ||
| Cesar Ramirez | 17.3 | 7,817 | ||
William VanHorn ![]() | 5.4 | 2,435 | ||
| Total votes: 45,073 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jesse Philippe (D)
- Lily Ramcharran (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 15
Laurel Lee defeated Kelli Stargel, Jackie Toledo, Demetries Grimes, and Kevin McGovern in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 15 on August 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Laurel Lee | 41.5 | 22,481 | |
| Kelli Stargel | 27.8 | 15,072 | ||
| Jackie Toledo | 11.6 | 6,307 | ||
Demetries Grimes ![]() | 10.4 | 5,629 | ||
Kevin McGovern ![]() | 8.7 | 4,713 | ||
| Total votes: 54,202 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Dennis A. Ross (R)
- Jay Collins (R)
2020
General election
General election for U.S. House Florida District 15
Scott Franklin defeated Alan Cohn in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 15 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Scott Franklin (R) | 55.4 | 216,374 | |
Alan Cohn (D) ![]() | 44.6 | 174,297 | ||
| Total votes: 390,671 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kevin Michael Levertt (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 15
Alan Cohn defeated Adam Hattersley, Jesse Philippe, and Kel Britvec in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 15 on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Alan Cohn ![]() | 41.0 | 21,079 | |
Adam Hattersley ![]() | 33.0 | 16,978 | ||
Jesse Philippe ![]() | 26.0 | 13,384 | ||
Kel Britvec (Write-in) ![]() | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Total votes: 51,441 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Andrew Learned (D)
- Loretta Lax Miller (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 15
Scott Franklin defeated incumbent Ross Spano in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 15 on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Scott Franklin | 51.2 | 30,736 | |
| Ross Spano | 48.8 | 29,265 | ||
| Total votes: 60,001 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
District analysis
This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.
See also
| Florida | 2026 primaries | 2026 U.S. Congress elections |
|---|---|---|
|
Voting in Florida Florida elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 |
Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries |
U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
