The florida primary 2026 is taking place Tuesday, August 18, with voters across the state choosing nominees for governor, the U.S. Senate and numerous congressional seats. The election is one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 midterm cycle because Florida is selecting a successor to term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis while also holding its first congressional primaries under a newly redrawn district map.
Voting is underway across Florida, and election officials are beginning to report results after polls close. The Republican governor’s race has attracted particular attention because U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds entered Election Day as the leading candidate, while Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and James Fishback are competing for the nomination.
The Democratic governor’s contest also has statewide importance. Former Republican congressman David Jolly has emerged as a leading Democratic contender in the race to challenge the eventual Republican nominee.
The Senate contest adds another major statewide race. Republican Sen. Ashley Moody is seeking election to complete the remainder of Marco Rubio’s Senate term, while Democrats Alex Vindman and state Rep. Angie Nixon are competing for their party’s nomination.
Why the Florida Primary Matters in 2026
Florida’s August election is more than a routine party nomination contest. The results will determine the candidates who move into some of the state’s most important November races.
The governor’s office is guaranteed to have a new occupant after the 2026 election because DeSantis cannot seek another consecutive term under Florida’s term-limit rules.
That open seat has created a competitive Republican primary featuring several candidates with different political backgrounds.
The Senate race is also unusual. The seat became vacant after Rubio left the Senate to become secretary of state. DeSantis appointed Moody to the position, and voters are now choosing who will serve the remainder of Rubio’s term.
Congressional races are equally significant because Florida’s new district boundaries are being tested for the first time in a statewide election.
The Republican-backed map could make several districts more favorable to GOP candidates and has forced some Democratic incumbents into new political territory.
Republican Governor’s Race Takes the Spotlight
The Republican primary for governor has been the headline contest throughout the campaign.
Byron Donalds entered the race after serving in the U.S. House and quickly became the candidate to beat. He has received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, giving his campaign a major advantage among Republican voters.
Donalds is seeking to become Florida’s first Black governor. His campaign has emphasized conservative policies and close alignment with the Republican base.
Jay Collins has presented himself as a serious alternative. Collins serves as Florida’s lieutenant governor and entered the race with statewide experience from his time in the DeSantis administration.
His campaign has focused heavily on affordability, taxes and the cost of living.
Collins has also argued that Republican voters should consolidate behind his candidacy if they want to prevent Donalds from winning the nomination.
James Fishback has provided another choice for Republican voters. Fishback entered the political arena with a strong focus on conservative issues and sought to build support among voters looking for an alternative to the better-known candidates.
The Republican field also includes several other candidates, but Donalds and Collins have received the most attention during the closing stages of the primary.
Donalds Holds a Strong Position
Polling before Election Day consistently showed Donalds with a significant advantage over his Republican rivals.
A July survey placed Donalds well ahead of Collins, while earlier polling also showed him leading the field.
His endorsement from Trump became one of the most important developments of the campaign. Trump remains a powerful force among Florida Republicans, and the endorsement helped Donalds establish a clear position within the party.
Donalds also benefited from his national profile.
His congressional career gave him familiarity with conservative voters outside Florida, while his campaign for governor allowed him to build a broader statewide operation.
Collins, meanwhile, attempted to close the gap by emphasizing his record as lieutenant governor and presenting himself as a candidate with direct experience inside Florida’s executive branch.
The final vote will determine whether Donalds’ polling advantage translates into a decisive nomination or whether his rivals manage to produce a closer contest than expected.
Jay Collins Makes a Late Campaign Move
Collins made one of the final major announcements of the Republican primary campaign shortly before Election Day.
He selected Kevin Guthrie as his running mate if he wins the governor’s nomination.
Guthrie serves as executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. His role has placed him at the center of the state’s hurricane preparedness and disaster-response efforts.
The announcement came just hours before the primary, giving Collins a significant late campaign message.
It also highlighted one of the most important responsibilities of Florida’s next governor: managing hurricanes, flooding, emergencies and other natural disasters.
However, Collins must first win the Republican nomination before the ticket can move into the general election.
Democrats Choose Their Governor Candidate
The Democratic primary offers voters a different set of choices.
David Jolly has emerged as one of the most prominent Democratic candidates. Jolly previously served as a Republican member of Congress before becoming a Democrat.
His political history gives him an unusual profile in a state where Democrats have struggled in recent statewide elections.
Jolly has positioned himself as a moderate candidate who believes Democrats need to appeal beyond their traditional base to compete effectively in Florida.
His campaign has focused on issues including affordability, government policy and the direction of the state.
The Democratic field includes other candidates, including several who have sought to present themselves as alternatives to Jolly’s centrist approach.
The winner will face the Republican nominee in November.
For Democrats, the primary represents an important test of which political strategy voters want the party to pursue in a state that has moved sharply toward Republicans in recent statewide elections.
The Senate Contest Adds Another Statewide Battle
The U.S. Senate primary is another central feature of the August ballot.
Ashley Moody entered the Republican contest with a strong political position. She previously served as Florida attorney general before being appointed to the Senate.
Moody is seeking election to complete the unexpired portion of Rubio’s term.
Her Republican primary has attracted much less uncertainty than the Democratic contest.
On the Democratic side, Alex Vindman and Angie Nixon are competing for the nomination.
Vindman is a retired Army colonel who became nationally known after his role in the first impeachment proceedings involving Trump. He later entered electoral politics and launched his Senate campaign in Florida.
Nixon serves in the Florida House and has built her campaign around her experience representing Jacksonville and her Democratic policy priorities.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Moody in the general election if Moody secures the Republican nomination.
Vindman and Nixon Offer Different Choices
The Democratic Senate primary has developed into a contest between two candidates with distinctly different political backgrounds.
Vindman entered the race with national recognition. His military career and role in the Trump-Ukraine controversy gave him an existing national profile before he began campaigning in Florida.
He has promoted a campaign centered on national security, democratic institutions and issues affecting Florida voters.
Nixon brings experience from state government and a stronger connection to Florida’s legislative politics.
She has emphasized issues affecting working families and communities across the state.
Both candidates have argued that Democrats can compete in Florida despite the state’s recent Republican trend.
The primary will determine which candidate gets the opportunity to make that case to the broader electorate in November.
Read More – Jay Collins Florida: Latest Governor Race Update and Kevin Guthrie Running Mate Pick
New Congressional Map Changes the Political Landscape
One of the most consequential features of this election is Florida’s newly redrawn congressional map.
The map was approved after a Republican-led redistricting process and significantly changed the boundaries of multiple districts.
The changes have created new political challenges for several incumbents.
Democrats are particularly focused on districts where longtime representatives now face unfamiliar electorates or new primary opponents.
Republicans are seeking to use the new boundaries to strengthen their position in the U.S. House.
The changes could have national consequences because control of the House may be closely contested after the November election.
Florida has 28 congressional districts, meaning even a small shift in the state’s delegation could influence the national balance of power.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz Faces a Changed District
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is among the Democrats navigating the new map.
The longtime congresswoman is running in a newly configured district with a heavily Black electorate.
The race has attracted additional attention because former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is also seeking the Democratic nomination.
Cherfilus-McCormick previously represented the area but left Congress after facing federal criminal allegations.
The primary has therefore become one of the more closely watched Democratic congressional contests in the state.
The winner will face the Republican candidate in November, depending on the final primary and general-election field.
Other Congressional Races Draw Attention
Several additional House contests have become important parts of the statewide primary.
Rep. Cory Mills faces a Republican primary challenge in the 7th Congressional District. Mills has faced substantial political scrutiny during his time in Congress, making the contest an important test of his support within the GOP.
The 6th District also features a competitive Republican primary involving Rep. Randy Fine.
The 19th District has attracted attention because Byron Donalds’ departure created an open Republican seat.
Multiple candidates are competing for the opportunity to represent the district after Donalds leaves Congress for his gubernatorial campaign.
Democrats are also contesting several districts where internal party battles could determine the November matchup.
These races matter because the new district map could increase the number of Florida seats that Republicans are capable of holding or gaining.
How Florida’s Primary System Works
Florida generally operates closed partisan primaries.
Registered Republicans typically vote in Republican primary contests, while registered Democrats vote in Democratic contests.
Voters who are not affiliated with a major political party generally cannot participate in those party primaries.
Florida does have exceptions for certain races when all candidates belong to the same political party and the primary effectively determines the winner.
The specific rules depend on the race.
Voters should therefore review their ballot and registration information before heading to the polls.
Election officials also process vote-by-mail ballots and provisional ballots under state election procedures.
Results reported on Election Night remain unofficial until the required canvassing and certification processes are completed.
What Happens After Polls Close
Florida counties begin reporting results after polls close and election officials complete the necessary procedures.
The first numbers can provide an early indication of where races are heading, but they do not automatically represent final results.
Election officials must continue processing ballots and conducting the required canvassing.
The state then receives certified results from the counties.
This process matters in close contests because the margin can change as additional ballots are counted.
For that reason, early Election Night totals should not be treated as final unless election officials determine that the race has been conclusively decided.
The Road From August to November
The primary results will establish the candidates for the November 3 general election.
The governor’s race will become the centerpiece of the statewide campaign once the Republican and Democratic nominees are known.
The Senate race will also receive national attention because Republicans and Democrats are competing for control of the chamber.
Florida’s congressional races could become even more important if the national House majority is decided by a narrow margin.
The November election will therefore determine far more than individual Florida offices.
It could influence the balance of power in Washington and shape the political direction of one of the country’s largest states.
Issues Driving Florida’s 2026 Campaign
Affordability has been a major theme in the governor’s race.
Housing costs, insurance premiums, property taxes and everyday expenses remain important concerns for voters.
The candidates have offered different approaches to reducing financial pressure on households.
Immigration and border policy remain major Republican campaign issues.
Education, parental rights, public safety and the role of state government have also featured prominently in Republican messaging.
Democrats have emphasized affordability, health care, reproductive rights, government accountability and the need for stronger competition in statewide elections.
The differences between the parties will become clearer once the primary winners begin preparing for November.
Why Turnout Could Matter
Primary elections typically attract fewer voters than general elections.
That makes turnout especially important in a closed-primary state such as Florida.
Candidates must motivate their strongest supporters while also reaching voters who participate less frequently.
The geographic distribution of turnout could also provide clues about the November electorate.
South Florida, Central Florida, the Tampa Bay region, North Florida and the Panhandle have different political characteristics.
Miami-Dade County remains particularly important because of its large population and evolving political trends.
The performance of candidates across these regions could reveal which groups are driving the state’s political direction.
Florida’s Political Direction Is on the Ballot
The August election represents an important moment for a state that has undergone a major political transformation.
Florida was once viewed as one of the country’s most competitive presidential battlegrounds.
In recent statewide elections, however, Republicans have strengthened their position.
The 2026 contests will show whether that trend continues.
The Republican governor’s primary will also test Trump’s influence among Florida Republicans.
Donalds has benefited from Trump’s endorsement, while Collins has attempted to convince voters that his experience in the DeSantis administration makes him the stronger candidate.
The Democratic contests offer a different test: whether moderate candidates can build a coalition capable of competing statewide.
What to Watch as Results Become Available
Several developments deserve close attention as results come in.
First is the margin in the Republican governor’s race. A decisive Donalds victory would reinforce his status as the party’s leading candidate. A closer result could give Collins or another rival a stronger political narrative.
Second is the Democratic governor’s race. Jolly’s performance will determine whether Democrats enter November with the candidate who led the field before Election Day.
Third is the Democratic Senate contest between Vindman and Nixon.
Fourth is the performance of incumbents in newly redrawn congressional districts.
Finally, turnout will provide an early indication of voter engagement heading toward the general election.
What Comes Next for Florida Voters
Once the primary results are certified, campaigns will shift immediately toward November.
The general election is scheduled for November 3, when Florida voters will choose the state’s next governor and decide the Senate contest, congressional races and numerous state and local offices.
The Republican and Democratic nominees will have roughly two and a half months to define their campaigns for the broader electorate.
That period could bring new endorsements, advertising battles, debates and changes in campaign strategy.
The August results will provide the foundation for those contests.
For voters, the primary is therefore not the end of the 2026 election story. It is the point at which the November field takes shape.
Final Takeaway
The 2026 primary has placed Florida’s open governor’s race, Senate contest and reshaped congressional districts at the center of the state’s political conversation. With polls closing Tuesday and results developing throughout Election Night, voters are beginning to determine which candidates will carry their parties into the November midterms.
What do you think about the key races and candidates in Florida’s 2026 election? Share your thoughts and stay informed as the latest confirmed results emerge.