Florida state legislative special elections, 2019
2020 →
← 2018
|
Special Elections |
|
|
Other election coverage |
State legislative elections State executive elections State judicial elections Ballot measures |
In 2019, three special elections were called to fill vacant seats in the Florida State Legislature. Click here to read more about the special elections.
House special elections called:
- District 7: June 18
- District 38: June 18
- District 97: June 18
How vacancies are filled in Florida
If there is a vacancy in the Florida State Legislature, a special election must be called to fill the vacant seat.[1] The governor is responsible for calling the election and must consult with the secretary of state to set the election dates and nominating deadlines.[2] The person elected to fill the seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.[3]
See sources: Florida Stat. § 100.101
About the legislature
The Florida Constitution mandates a bicameral state legislature with an upper house, the Florida State Senate, and a lower house, the Florida House of Representatives. The boxes below show the partisan composition of both chambers directly before and after the November 2018 general election. For the most up-to-date numbers on partisan composition in this legislature, see here (Senate) and here (House).
Florida State Senate | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of November 6, 2018 | After November 7, 2018 | |
Democratic Party | 16 | 17 | |
Republican Party | 22 | 23 | |
Vacancy | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 40 | 40 |
Florida House of Representatives | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of November 6, 2018 | After November 7, 2018 | |
Democratic Party | 41 | 47 | |
Republican Party | 75 | 73 | |
Vacancy | 4 | 0 | |
Total | 120 | 120 |
Special elections
Click [show] to the right of the district name for more information:
June 18, 2019
Florida House of Representatives District 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A special election for District 7 of the Florida House of Representatives was called for June 18, 2019. A primary took place on April 9, 2019. Candidates wishing to run in this election were required to file by February 14, 2019.[4] The seat became vacant after Halsey Beshears (R) resigned on January 11, 2019, to become the Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.[5][6] General electionSpecial general election for Florida House of Representatives District 7Jason Shoaf defeated Ryan Terrell in the special general election for Florida House of Representatives District 7 on June 18, 2019.
Democratic primary electionSpecial Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7Ryan Terrell advanced from the special Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7 on April 9, 2019.
Republican primary electionSpecial Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7Jason Shoaf defeated Mike Watkins, Lynda Bell, and Virginia Fuller in the special Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 7 on April 9, 2019.
|
Florida House of Representatives District 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A special election for District 38 of the Florida House of Representatives was called for June 18, 2019. A primary took place on April 9, 2019. Candidates wishing to run in this election were required to file by February 14, 2019.[7] The seat became vacant after Daniel Burgess (R) was appointed as the Executive Director of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on January 24, 2019.[5][8] General electionSpecial general election for Florida House of Representatives District 38Randy Maggard defeated Kelly Smith in the special general election for Florida House of Representatives District 38 on June 18, 2019.
Democratic primary electionSpecial Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 38Kelly Smith advanced from the special Democratic primary for Florida House of Representatives District 38 on April 9, 2019.
Republican primary electionSpecial Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 38Randy Maggard defeated David McCallister in the special Republican primary for Florida House of Representatives District 38 on April 9, 2019.
|
Florida House of Representatives District 97 | |
---|---|
A special election for District 97 of the Florida House of Representatives was called for June 18, 2019. A primary would have taken place on April 9, 2019, but it and the general election were both canceled because only one candidate, Dan Daley (D), qualified for the ballot. Daley won election to the position outright and took office in June 2019.[9] Candidates wishing to run in this election were required to file by February 14, 2019.[10] The seat became vacant after Jared Moskowitz (D) resigned in January 2019 to become the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.[5][11] Note: Dan Daley (D) was the only candidate to file and won the position by default when the election was canceled. Democratic primary electionThe primary election was canceled. Dan Daley (D) won the election without appearing on the ballot. |
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Candidate survey
Ballotpedia invites candidates to participate in its annual survey. |
The following state legislative candidates responded to Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click candidate names to read their answers.
Florida House of Representatives District 7
Special elections throughout the country
In 2019, 77 state legislative special elections were held in 24 states. Between 2011 and 2018, an average of 77 special elections took place each year.
Breakdown of 2019 special elections
In 2019, special elections for state legislative positions were held for the following reasons:
- 47 due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
- 21 due to a retirement
- 6 due to the death of the incumbent
- 1 due to a resignation related to criminal charges
- 2 due to an election being rerun
Impact of special elections on partisan composition
The partisan breakdown for the special elections was as follows:
- 39 Democratic seats
- 38 Republican seats
The table below details how many seats changed parties as the result of a special election in 2019. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party won in the special elections. In elections between 2011 and 2018, either the Democratic Party or Republican Party saw an average net gain of four seats across the country. Between 2017 and 2018, Democrats had a net gain of 19 seats.
Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not the total number of vacant seats.
Partisan Change from Special Elections (2019) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of Special Election | After Special Election | |
Democratic Party | 39 | 36 | |
Republican Party | 38 | 40 | |
Independent | 0 | 1 | |
Total | 77 | 77 |
Flipped seats
In 2019, eight seats flipped as a result of state legislative special elections.
Seats flipped from D to R
- Minnesota State Senate District 11 (February 5)
- Connecticut State Senate District 6 (February 26)
- Connecticut House of Representatives District 99 (February 26)
- Kentucky State Senate District 31 (March 5)
- New Jersey State Senate District 1 (November 5)
Seats flipped from R to D
- Pennsylvania State Senate District 37 (April 2)
- Missouri House of Representatives District 99 (November 5)
Seats flipped from R to I
State profile
- See also: Florida and Florida elections, 2019
Partisan data
The information in this section was current as of May 7, 2019
Presidential voting pattern
- Florida voted Republican in five out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2018 elections, both of the U.S. Senators from Florida were Republicans.
- Florida had 13 Democratic and 14 Republican U.S. Representatives.
State executives
- Democrats held one of Florida's 16 state executive offices and Republicans held six. Elections for the other offices are nonpartisan.
- Florida's governor was Republican Ron DeSantis.
State legislature
- Republicans controlled the Florida State Senate with a 23-17 majority.
- Republicans controlled the Florida House of Representatives with a 71-46 majority, while three seats were vacant.
Florida Party Control: 1992-2024
One year of a Democratic trifecta • Twenty-six years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Governor | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | I | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Senate | D | S | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
House | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
|
|
Demographic data for Florida | ||
---|---|---|
Florida | U.S. | |
Total population: | 20,244,914 | 316,515,021 |
Land area (sq mi): | 53,625 | 3,531,905 |
Race and ethnicity** | ||
White: | 76% | 73.6% |
Black/African American: | 16.1% | 12.6% |
Asian: | 2.6% | 5.1% |
Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Two or more: | 2.4% | 3% |
Hispanic/Latino: | 23.7% | 17.1% |
Education | ||
High school graduation rate: | 86.9% | 86.7% |
College graduation rate: | 27.3% | 29.8% |
Income | ||
Median household income: | $47,507 | $53,889 |
Persons below poverty level: | 19.8% | 11.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Florida. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. |
See also
- State legislative special elections, 2019
- State legislative special elections, 2018
- State legislative special elections, 2017
- State legislative special elections, 2016
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Florida State Legislature
Footnotes
- ↑ Florida Legislature, "2023 Florida Statutes," accessed January 23, 2024 (Statute 100.101(2), Florida Election Code)
- ↑ Florida Legislature, "2023 Florida Statutes," accessed January 23, 2024 (Statute 100.141 (1) (2), Florida Election Code)
- ↑ Florida Legislature, "2023 Florida Statutes," accessed January 23, 2024 (Statute 100.111 (1) (a-c), Florida Election Code)
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "House District 7 Notice of Special Election (including qualifying information and reporting dates)," accessed January 29, 2019
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Florida Politics, "Special elections set for House members who joined Ron DeSantis administration," January 25, 2019
- ↑ Twitter, "Halsey Beshears on January 11, 2019," accessed January 29, 2019
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "House District 38 Notice of Special Election (including qualifying information and reporting dates)," accessed January 29, 2019
- ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "This Tampa Bay state representative now leads Florida’s veterans affairs," January 24, 2019
- ↑ Sunshine State News, "Shoaf, Maggard Pick up Primary Wins," April 10, 2019
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "House District 97 Notice of Special Election (including qualifying information and reporting dates)," accessed January 29, 2019
- ↑ Orlando Weekly, "Ron DeSantis taps Democrat Jared Moskowitz as Florida's next disaster manager," December 7, 2018
![]() |
State of Florida Tallahassee (capital) |
---|---|
Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |