Republicans Select Candidates for Three Vacancies in the Florida Legislature
The three special elections cover one district in the Florida Senate and two districts in the Florida House of Representatives.
The Democratic and Republican primaries occurred today in Florida to fill three seats in the state legislature - two in the State House and one in the State Senate. A candidate only needs to obtain a plurality of the vote to receive their party’s nomination today.
In Florida State Senate District 19, Republican incumbent Randy Fine resigned to successfully run in the special election for the state’s 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented this district from November 2024 to March 2025. He was elected to this seat 59.4-40.6 against Democrat Vance Ahrens in 2024.
State Senate District 19 takes in central and southern Brevard County. Notably, the district doesn’t overlap with any territory covered by Florida’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House. Nevertheless, Fine still left to pursue that office.
Florida State Senate District 19 Primary:
Vance Ahrens won the Democratic primary unopposed.
Debbie Mayfield won the Republican primary with 60.8% (23,626) against Mark Lightner III with 16.1% (6,259), Tim Thomas with 13.4% (5,181), and Marcie Adkins with 9.7% (3,783). 38,849 votes counted.
In Florida State House District 3, Republican incumbent Joel Rudman resigned to unsuccessfully run in the special election for the state’s 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented this district from November 2022 to January 2025. He was re-elected 78.4-21.6 against Democrat Keith Ellis Gillum in 2024.
State House District 3 encompasses parts of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties in the Florida Panhandle.
Florida State House District 3 Primary:
Dondre Wise won the Democratic primary unopposed.
Nathan Boyles won the Republican primary with 35.9% (8,723) against Shon Owens with 31.9% (7,765), Hayden Hudson with 10.5% (2,562), Cindy Smith with 8.6% (2,099), Wade Merritt with 6.4% (1,548), Jamie Lee Wells with 3.8% (930), Rena McQuaig with 1.7% (410), and Joshua Sik with 1.2% (294). 24,331 votes counted.
In Florida State House District 32, Republican incumbent Debbie Mayfield resigned to run in the special election to return to the State Senate representing District 19. She represented this district from November 2024 to March 2025 and previously from November 2008 to November 2016. She was elected to this office 64.3-35.7 against Democrat Juan Hinojosa in 2024.
House District 32 covers parts of central Brevard County.
Florida State House District 32 Primary:
Juan Hinojosa won the Democratic primary unopposed.
Brian Hodgers won the Republican primary with 35.0% (5,642) against Bob White with 33.1% (5,333) and Terrence Cronin Jr. with 31.9% (5,138). 16,113 votes counted.
The special elections for these three state legislative districts in Florida will occur on June 10, 2025. Republicans currently have supermajority control of both legislative chambers in Florida. The State Senate has one additional vacancy following the death of Democrat Geraldine Thompson. A date has not yet been set for the special election, though State Representative Lavon Bracy Davis will be resigning from her seat to seek a promotion.