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Florida gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 28 Republican primary)

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Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Florida
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: June 22, 2018
Primary: August 28, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent(s):
Gov. Rick Scott (Republican)
Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Florida
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up
Inside Elections: Tilt Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2018
Impact of term limits in 2018
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
Florida
executive elections
Governor

Lieutenant governor
Attorney general
Chief Financial Officer
Agriculture commissioner

Rep. Ron DeSantis (R) won the August 28 gubernatorial primary, defeating state agriculture commissioner Adam Putnam and six other candidates. DeSantis received 56.5 percent of the vote to Putnam's 36.5 percent.

DeSantis, who led or tied in every poll conducted after the beginning of July 2018, had represented Florida's 6th Congressional District, which includes St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, since the 2012 election. President Trump (R), who carried the state by an 18 percent margin in the 2016 presidential primary, endorsed DeSantis.[3] His other backers included Sean Hannity and Reps. Matt Gaetz (R) and Travis Cummings (R).

Putnam was first elected as agriculture commissioner in 2010 after serving five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and two in the Florida House of Representatives. In the race's early days, Putnam was seen by local political observers as a likely frontrunner. On the campaign trail, Putnam emphasized his connections to the state, describing himself as a fifth-generation Floridian who knows the state well.[4] He was endorsed by state House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R) and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

The two differed on style; DeSantis charged Putnam with supporting sugar industry interests and said that he had spent too much time in elected office, calling him "a career politician … who will say or do anything to get elected."[5][6] Putnam accused DeSantis of lacking knowledge of the issues, comparing his campaign to the sitcom Seinfeld: "The campaign is being run out of a studio, they have a smattering of celebrity guest appearances, and it’s all about nothing. But, unlike Seinfeld, it’s not funny."[6]

Among the policy differences between the two was immigration; while both candidates stated their opposition to sanctuary cities, each criticized the other for their immigration stances. DeSantis criticized Putnam for his vote while in the U.S. House in favor of a proposal that would have allowed some immigrants residing in the country without legal permission an option to obtain U.S. citizenship, and accused Putnam of working to halt a bill which would have required private businesses to use the E-Verify system to ensure a potential hiree's legal immigration status. Meanwhile, Putnam criticized DeSantis for a vote he cast while in the U.S. House which would have allowed immigrants residing in the country without legal permission to receive government food assistance.[7][8]

There were eight total candidates on the ballot. Besides DeSantis and Putnam, they were Don Baldauf, Timothy Devine, Bob Langford, John Joseph Mercadante, Bruce Nathan, and Bob White.



Candidates and election results

See also: Statistics on gubernatorial candidates, 2018

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Florida on August 28, 2018.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Florida

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ron DeSantis
Ron DeSantis
 
56.5
 
916,298
Image of Adam Putnam
Adam Putnam
 
36.5
 
592,518
Image of Bob White
Bob White
 
2.0
 
32,710
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Timothy Devine
 
1.3
 
21,380
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Bob Langford
 
1.2
 
19,842
Image of Bruce Nathan
Bruce Nathan
 
0.9
 
14,556
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Don Baldauf
 
0.8
 
13,173
Image of John Joseph Mercadante
John Joseph Mercadante
 
0.7
 
11,647

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,622,124
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Top candidates

Ballotpedia identified the following candidates as top candidates based on their multiple major endorsements and their fundraising of at least $1,000,000 as of the filing deadline.

Ron desantis.jpg

Ron DeSantis (R)
U.S. representative

DeSantis served as a member of the U.S. House representing Florida's 6th Congressional District, which is located in the northern half of the state's east coast and includes the cities of St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. He was first elected in 2012. DeSantis previously served in the U.S. Navy as a JAG prosecutor, where he worked in support of counterterrorism operations in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay.

In his January 2018 announcement that he would run for governor, DeSantis touted his support from President Trump (R), who had endorsed him the previous month: "With the support of the president, I'm in a position to exercise the leadership that can build on the great work Rick Scott has done."[9] The home page of DeSantis' campaign website highlighted his military service, support for conservative values, and endorsement from President Trump.[10]

Among DeSantis' other endorsements were Sean Hannity and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R).

Adam Putnam.jpg

Adam Putnam (R)
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture


Putnam served as state agriculture commissioner. He was first elected in 2010. He had previously served in the state House between 1996 and 2001 and in the U.S. House between 2001 and his election as agriculture commissioner.

In his May 2017 campaign kickoff, Putnam emphasized his status as a native of the state: "People want leadership that's conservative...They're tired of people misleading them about the scope of the problem or the difficulty of the solutions. It is who I am and where I am from that represents the frustration with Tallahassee and with Washington. People believe the disconnect occurs because there's a lack of honesty and authenticity."[11] The home page of Putnam's campaign website touted his support for decreased firearms regulations, increased support for veterans, and economic growth.[12]

Putnam's endorsements included state House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R) and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Endorsements

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Republican Florida gubernatorial candidates, 2018
Poll Poll sponsor Adam Putnam Ron DeSantisBob WhiteTimothy DevineEllen WildsArmando RivasBruce NathanOtherNone of the aboveDon't knowMargin of errorSample size
St. Pete Polls
(August 22-23, 2018)		FloridaPolitics.com 33%56%3%0%0%0%0%0%0%8%+/-2.12,141
SurveyUSA
(August 10-13, 2018)		Spectrum News 13 38%40%2%2%0%0%1%2%0%16%+/-5.2558
North Star Opinion Research
(August 5-7, 2018)		N/A 30%50%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%20%+/-4.0600
Mason-Dixon Polling
(July 23-25, 2018)		N/A 29%41%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%28%+/-4.0625
Florida Chamber of Commerce
(July 14-19, 2018)		Florida Chamber of Commerce 36%36%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%28%+/-4.01700
St. Pete Polls
(July 16-17, 2018)		FloridaPolitics.com 30%50%4%0%0%0%0%0%0%17%+/-2.41,709
Gravis Marketing
(July 13-14, 2018)		N/A 29%35%4%0%0%4%0%2%0%25%+/-3.3905
NBC News/Marist
(June 17-21, 2018)		N/A 38%21%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%42%+/-6.7326
Fox News
June 15-19, 2018		N/A 32%17%3%1%1%1%1%1%4%49%+/-3.0901
AVERAGES 32.78% 38.44% 1.78% 0.33% 0.11% 0.56% 0.22% 0.56% 0.44% 25.89% +/-3.86 940.56
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Republican Florida gubernatorial candidates, 2018 (no sample size information provided)
Poll Poll sponsor Ron DeSantis Adam PutnamDavid AdamsTimothy DevineBob WhiteBruce NathanDon BaldaufUndecided/OtherMargin of Error
Saint Leo University
(August 10-16, 2018)		N/A 30%38%0%0%0%0%0%32%172
Florida Atlantic University
(May 4-7, 2018)		N/A 16%15%8%5%3%2%1%51%+/-5.0
AVERAGES 23% 26.5% 4% 2.5% 1.5% 1% 0.5% 41.5% +/-
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.


Republican Florida gubernatorial candidates, 2018
Poll Adam Putnam Richard CorcoranRon DeSantisJack LatvalaBob WhiteUndecided/OtherMargin of errorSample size
Gravis Marketing
(February 26 - March 19, 2018)		 17%3%19%0%0%60%+/-2.12,212
Remington Research Group
(December 30-31, 2017)		 25%3%28%0%0%44%+/-2.61,423
Gravis Marketing
(December 19-24, 2017)		 23%2%12%2%1%60%+/-1.35,778
Florida Atlantic University
(August 24-26, 2017)		 27%10%9%2%0%53%+/-6.5304
AVERAGES 23% 4.5% 17% 1% 0.25% 54.25% +/-3.13 2,429.25
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Campaign finance

The following figures were obtained from the Florida Division of Elections' contributions and expenditures search functions on July 5, 2018.

  • As of July 5, DeSantis-affiliated committee Friends of Ron DeSantis had raised $9,760,295.77 and spent $2,010,949.81.
  • As of July 5, Putnam-affiliated committee Florida Grown had raised $20,003,435.02 and spent $13,546,010.02.

Satellite spending

National Liberty Federation

In March 2018, the National Liberty Foundation launched an advertisement campaign in opposition to the candidacy of Rep. Ron DeSantis (R).[33] The organization reported at least $755,000 in spending on the campaign.[34][35] Seven radio stations pulled an advertisement that was included in the campaign after the DeSantis campaign filed a cease and desist, saying that the advertisement in question was inaccurate. The advertisement claimed that DeSantis had voted in favor of providing federal assistance to immigrants who did not have legal permission to reside in the country.[36]

Past elections

2014

See also: Florida gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014

Rick Scott ran for re-election as governor of Florida in the 2014 elections. Scott won the Republican primary by a 77 percent margin, defeating Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder and Yinka Adeshina.[37]

Governor of Florida, Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngRick Scott Incumbent 87.6% 831,887
Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder 10.6% 100,496
Yinka Adeshina 1.8% 16,761
Total Votes 949,144
Election results via Florida Division of Elections.


Campaign tactics and strategies

Campaign advertisements

Republican Party Ron DeSantis

Support
"Tough Cookie," -Ron DeSantis for Governor ad, released August 6, 2018
"Casey," -Ron DeSantis for Governor ad, released June 30, 2018
"Only DeSantis" - Friends of Ron DeSantis ad, released June 24, 2018


Republican Party Adam Putnam

Support
"Pam Bondi Supports Adam Putnam" - Adam Putnam advertisement, released July 26, 2018
"23% more" - Florida Grown PC advertisement, released July 24, 2018
"Secure" - Florida Grown PC advertisement, released July 9, 2018
"Enforce the Law" - Florida First advertisement, released June 11, 2018
"Path to Success" - Putnam campaign advertisement, released May 22, 2018
"Won't Back Down" - Putnam campaign advertisement, released April 23, 2018


Noteworthy events

Donald Trump, Jr. campaign appearance

On August 2, 2018, Donald Trump, Jr. made a campaign appearance in northwestern Florida on behalf of both Ron DeSantis (R) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R), who was seeking re-election.[38] Gaetz and DeSantis have made joint campaign appearances in the past, including a July 2, 2018, event with Sean Hannity.[39]

Publix Super Markets' suspension of political contributions

On May 25, 2018, Publix Super Markets, a grocery store chain based in Lakeland, Florida, announced that it would suspend its corporate political contributions. Its announcement came just before David Hogg, a survivor of the February 2018 Parkland school shooting and advocate for increased gun regulations, staged a protest inside one of its stores. Hogg was protesting Publix's $670,000 in donations to Adam Putnam, who expressed support for the National Rifle Association.

Putnam's campaign responded by saying, "Adam Putnam supports Publix, which is Florida’s top private employer. He is thankful for their support as Florida’s candidate over the years."

Ron DeSantis was critical of the decision and tweeted, "Shopping won’t be a pleasure if left-wing agitators get their way. I’ll always stand up for #2A!"[40]

Context of the 2018 election

  • Heading into the election, the sitting governor was Rick Scott (R), who was first elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. Scott was prevented by term limits from seeking re-election.
  • As of the 2018 elections, Florida was under a Republican trifecta. It had held this status since Scott took office in 2011. Florida also had a Republican triplex.
  • In the past five presidential elections, Florida was won by the Republican candidate in 2000, 2004, and 2016 and by the Democratic candidate in 2008 and 2012. The widest margin of victory was George W. Bush's five percent margin in 2004 while the narrowest was George W. Bush's 0.01 percent margin in 2000.
  • Florida was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election. Click here for more information on other 2018 gubernatorial elections.

Media coverage

  • Allen Greenblatt, Governing (August 2018): "The 2018 Swamp Cabbage Festival in Hendry County, Fla., featured a rodeo, a car show, a parade, a variety of clogging troupes and the 51st annual crowning of the Swamp Cabbage Queen. It also featured Adam Putnam, the state agriculture commissioner. But the Republican wasn’t there to inspect the cabbage. He was doing what he spends most of his time doing these days: showing up at popular events, shaking hands and asking people to support him for governor. It’s Politics 101, and Putnam is a tenured practitioner of Florida politics. But this year, it might not be enough.
The 44-year-old Putnam has been laying plans to run for governor for a long time. He won a seat in the state House at age 22, becoming the youngest person ever elected to the Florida Legislature. Four years later, he was in Congress. In eight years as agriculture commissioner, a statewide elected position, he’s raised millions of dollars -- $32.7 million for his gubernatorial bid as of June 30 -- and has garnered endorsements from politicians up and down the state, as well as backing from Florida’s major business lobbies. He’s managed to drive most potential competitors from the race, including state House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who dropped out in May, saying it had taken him “all of 2.2 seconds” to back Putnam. “Putnam has done all the right things and checked every box,” says Matthew Corrigan, who chairs the University of North Florida’s political science department. “He’s spent a lifetime in politics, he’s been all over the state, he can raise money and he has the endorsements of the party establishment.”
But there’s at least one important endorsement Putnam has failed to win -- Donald Trump’s. The president has lent his support to Ron DeSantis, a third-term congressman. DeSantis has been one of Trump’s most ardent backers, and has appeared on Fox News roughly 100 times since January to criticize the FBI and defend the president against any accusations regarding Russian interference in the last election. DeSantis has the enthusiastic backing of Fox host Sean Hannity. Perhaps more important, he has ready access to Fox viewers. Meanwhile, Putnam has been shut out of Fox, completely absent from the network all year. “Ron has done a masterful job on Fox News, putting himself out there almost as Donald Trump’s lawyer,” says Mike Haridopolos, a former Florida Senate president and a Putnam supporter.
The primary between Putnam and DeSantis -- the party regular vs. the cable news guy -- provides a case study in how much politics and the Republican Party are changing this year. You can barely talk about the race to any prominent Florida Republicans without hearing them say that “in a normal year” Putnam would win, and he has been leading in the polls. DeSantis lacks much of a campaign infrastructure, and his fundraising trails Putnam’s, although he’s gotten support from the Mercer family, among the most important donors in Trump’s universe. While Putnam has hit every county fair and Republican pig roast, DeSantis has mostly been stuck in Washington. Putnam has had paid television ads running since the spring, while DeSantis didn’t launch his first ad until shortly before the Fourth of July.
For all that, however, the support of Trump and Fox means that no one is counting DeSantis out. A wealth of GOP voters remains undecided. Florida’s primary elections are restricted to party members, and they tend to be dominated by the most committed activists. DeSantis was never going to have the support of the insider class in Tallahassee, but the backing of the Republican Party’s greatest current hero and its TV channel of choice means he has a real shot. 'Everyone thought for many years that Putnam would be the next governor of Florida,' says GOP consultant Ryan Wiggins, who is neutral in the race, 'but the party changed from under him and he’s got the race of his life on his hands.'”[41]

Debates and forums

June 28, 2018 debate

Adam Putnam (R) and Ron DeSantis (R) met for a debate sponsored by Fox News on June 28, 2018. See the below links for a recording of the debate:

Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Race ratings: Florida gubernatorial election, 2018
Race tracker Race ratings
November 5, 2018 October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018
The Cook Political Report Toss-up Toss-upToss-upToss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales Tilt Democratic Tilt DemocraticTilt DemocraticTilt Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball Toss-up Toss-upToss-upToss-up
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Florida utilizes a closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is limited to registered party members.[42][43]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In Florida, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Florida is divided between the Eastern and Central time zones. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[44]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Florida, one must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a legal resident of Florida and the county in which he or she intends to vote. A person must also not be deemed mentally incapacitated with respect to voting, nor have been convicted of a felony without having their voting rights restored. Pre-registration is available beginning at 16 years of age.[45][46]

Voters may retrieve registration applications at the following locations:[45][46]

  • Local elections offices
  • Public assistance agencies
  • Disability services agencies
  • Independent living centers
  • Military recruitment offices
  • Public libraries
  • Driver's license office
  • Tax collector's office
  • The office of any entity authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to issue fishing, hunting, or trapping permits

A registration form is also available online. The form can be printed and submitted via mail.[46]

Click here to find your county Supervisor of Elections.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Florida does not practice automatic voter registration.[47]

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Florida has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Voters may also apply for or modify their voter registration status while renewing their driver's license through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ online renewal system here.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Florida does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Florida, you must be a resident of the state.[46] State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Starting January 1, 2027, Florida requires officials to verify whether a prospective voter provided proof of citizenship when applying for a driver’s license or state ID card. If not, the person must provide proof of citizenship to be registered to vote. This also applies to individuals who are updating their registration with a change of name, address, or party affiliation.[48]

Documents acceptable as proof of citizenship include:[48]

“ (a) An original or certified copy of a United States birth certificate.

(b) A valid, unexpired United States passport.
(c) A naturalization certificate issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security.
(d) A Consular Report of Birth Abroad provided by the United States Department of State.
(e) A current and valid Florida driver's license or Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, if such license or identification card indicates United States citizenship.
(f) A current and valid photo identification issued by the Federal Government or the state which indicates United States citizenship.[49]

”

If a person appears to vote who did not provide proof of citizenship, they would be issued a provisional ballot. The ballot would only be counted if they provided proof of citizenship before 5 p.m. on the second day following the election.[48]

An individual must also attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "it is a 3rd degree felony under state and federal laws to falsely swear or affirm or otherwise submit false information."[50]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[51] Eight states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Three states, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means.[52] One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The page Voter Information Lookup, run by the Florida Department of State, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Florida requires voters to present photo identification with a signature while voting.[53][54]

The following list of accepted ID was current as of November 2025. Click here for the Florida Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Whether voting during early voting or on Election Day, you must bring a current and valid photo ID with signature. Any one of the following photo IDs will be accepted:

  • Florida driver’s license
  • Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  • United States passport
  • Debit or credit card
  • Military identification
  • Student identification
  • Retirement center identification
  • Neighborhood association identification
  • Public assistance identification
  • Veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of *Veterans Affairs
  • License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06
  • Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality.[49]
 ”

Starting on January 1, 2027, passport cards and uniformed services or Merchant Marine identification cards will be accepted as valid photo IDs for voting purposes. Debit or credit cards, student ID cards, retirement center identification, neighborhood association identification, and public assistance identification would no longer be accepted.[55]

A voter who presents an ID without a signature must show a second form of identification that includes the voter’s signature.[53]

Early voting

Florida permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting allows citizens to cast their ballots in person at a polling place before an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not offer no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

All voters are eligible to vote by mail in Florida. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting by mail.[56]

To vote by mail, an application must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the 12th day before the election. Election officials must mail the ballot out within two business days after a request, but no later than the 10th day before Election Day.[56]

A returned ballot must then be received by election officials by 7:00 p.m. local time on Election Day.[56]

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Four of 67 Florida counties—6 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Jefferson County, Florida 5.06% 1.75% 3.66%
Monroe County, Florida 6.82% 0.44% 4.90%
Pinellas County, Florida 1.11% 5.65% 8.25%
St. Lucie County, Florida 2.40% 7.86% 12.12%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Florida with 49 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 47.8 percent. Florida was considered a key battleground state in the 2016 general election. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Florida voted Democratic 56.67 percent of the time and Republican 43.33 percent of the time. Florida went to the Republicans in 2000, 2004, and 2016, and it went to the Democrats in 2008 and 2012.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Florida. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[57][58]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 55 out of 120 state House districts in Florida with an average margin of victory of 29.1 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 54 out of 120 state House districts in Florida with an average margin of victory of 30.3 points. Clinton won 14 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 65 out of 120 state House districts in Florida with an average margin of victory of 17.7 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 66 out of 120 state House districts in Florida with an average margin of victory of 21.1 points. Trump won two districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Florida governor Republican primary 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Florida gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 28 Republican primary) - Google News

See also

Florida government:

Elections:

Ballotpedia exclusives:

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Counties could add additional early voting days from October 22 through October 26 and/or November 4.
  2. ↑ Counties could add additional early voting days from October 22 through October 26 and/or November 4.
  3. ↑ Politico, "Trump endorses DeSantis for governor via Twitter," December 22, 2017
  4. ↑ The Ledger, "Putnam gears up for tough primary," April 7, 2018
  5. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "‘Seinfeld candidate’ vs. Sugar’s errand boy. DeSantis, Putnam clash in final debate," August 8, 2018
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named algae
  7. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Immigration a top issue for Republican governor candidates … but what can they actually do about it?," July 19, 2018
  8. ↑ The St. Augustine Record, "DeSantis, Putnam debate Trump ties, immigration," June 29, 2018
  9. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Rep. Ron DeSantis declares run for Florida governor," January 5, 2018
  10. ↑ Ron DeSantis for Governor, "Home," accessed July 5, 2018
  11. ↑ Sun Sentinel, "Adam Putnam kicks off campaign for governor in hometown," May 10, 2017
  12. ↑ Adam Putnam for Governor, "Home," accessed July 5, 2018
  13. ↑ Corcoran announced that he would not run for governor on May 9, 2018.
  14. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Congressman Matt Gaetz endorses Richard Corcoran for governor," April 4, 2018
  15. ↑ Politico, "Trump endorses DeSantis for governor via Twitter," December 22, 2017
  16. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Trump tweets full endorsement of Ron DeSantis," June 22, 2018
  17. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Sean Hannity ‘completely supports’ Ron DeSantis for Florida governor," January 18, 2018
  18. ↑ Twitter, "Matt Gaetz," May 21, 2018
  19. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Ron DeSantis picks up key endorsement: Incoming Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva," accessed June 28, 2018
  20. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Koch-backed super PAC endorses Ron DeSantis for governor," July 10, 2018
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Tampa Bay Times, "State Sen. Rob Bradley, Rep. Travis Cummings endorse Ron DeSantis for governor," accessed August 9, 2018
  22. ↑ Sun Sentinel, "Everglades champion and Big Sugar foe endorses Ron DeSantis and Gwen Graham in governor primaries," August 6, 2018
  23. ↑ Orlando Sentinel, "Puerto Rico Lt. Gov. Luis Rivera Marín endorses Ron DeSantis for governor," August 13, 2018
  24. ↑ Florida Politics, "‘Brothers from a different mother’: Lenny Curry endorses Ron DeSantis," August 16, 2018
  25. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Adam Putnam lands a nice endorsement as rivals circle," July 28, 2017
  26. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Police union endorses Graham, Putnam in governor’s races," May 2, 2018
  27. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Florida’s largest business group endorses Putnam for governor," May 4, 2018
  28. ↑ Orlando Sentinel, "Corcoran bails on governor run, backs Putnam," May 9, 2018
  29. ↑ Florida Politics, "Firefighters endorse Adam Putnam, Sean Shaw, Denise Grimsley," June 15, 2018
  30. ↑ Sunshine State News, "Adam Putnam Endorsed by Conservative Florida Family Action," June 20, 2018
  31. ↑ The Capitolist, "Putnam picks up endorsement from Florida Realtors," July 10, 2018
  32. ↑ Florida Today, "Republican governor candidate White of Suntree endorsed by Ron Paul," May 4, 2018
  33. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Here’s a very sweet reason Roger Stone has it in for Ron DeSantis," March 31, 2018
  34. ↑ Politico, "Concerned Buchanan starts early ad blitz — Graham makes governor's race a Trump referendum — Shark Tank vs. Deutch — State slows billions in FEMA help — Matt Gaetz, D.C. avatar," April 3, 2018
  35. ↑ Politico, "U.S. Sugar’s fingerprints on $700K in attack ads against longtime foe DeSantis," April 13, 2018
  36. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Ron DeSantis campaign gets attack ads pulled after citing PolitiFact in cease and desist letter," April 23, 2018
  37. ↑ Florida Department of State, "August 26, 2014 Republican primary results," accessed September 18, 2017
  38. ↑ WEAR TV, "Donald Trump Jr. to campaign for Matt Gaetz, Ron DeSantis in NW FL," accessed July 5, 2018
  39. ↑ WEAR TV, "Matt Gaetz, Ron DeSantis, & Fox News host Sean Hannity hold meet & greet in Pensacola," July 2, 2018
  40. ↑ Miami Herald, "Publix halts political contributions ahead of Parkland students' 'die-in' protest," May 25, 2018
  41. ↑ Governing, "Sunshine Sweepstakes, "August 2018
  42. ↑ The Florida Senate, "Fla. Stat. § 101.021," accessed November 26, 2025
  43. ↑ The Florida Senate, "Fla. Stat. § 97.055," accessed November 26, 2025
  44. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "FAQ - Voting," accessed November 26, 2025
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Florida Division of Elections, "National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)," accessed November 26, 2025
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 Florida Division of Elections, "Register to Vote or Update your Information," accessed November 26, 2025
  47. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Automatic Voter Registration," accessed November 26, 2025
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Florida House, "HB 0991," accessed April 1, 2026
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  50. ↑ Florida Department of State, "Florida Voter Registration Application Instructions and Form," accessed November 26, 2025
  51. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  52. ↑ Florida's law takes effect on January 1, 2027
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Election Day Voting," accessed November 26, 2025
  54. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Florida History: Voter ID at the Polls," accessed November 26, 2025
  55. ↑ Florida House, "HB 0991," accessed April 2, 2026
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 Florida Division of Elections, "Vote-by-Mail," accessed November 26, 2025
  57. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  58. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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