2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida


The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, to elect the 27 U.S. representatives from the state of Florida, one from each of the state's 27 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other offices, including a gubernatorial election, 2018 [United States House of Representatives elections|other elections] to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The party primaries were held on August 28, 2018.
The state congressional delegation changed from a 16–11 Republican majority to a slim 14–13 Republican majority, one short from a Democratic flip. These were seen as the most seats Democrats had attained in Florida since 1982 [United States House of Representatives elections|1982]. As noted in the vote table below, Florida does not count votes in uncontested races, so the votes in the four uncontested seats held by Democratic members of the House are not counted in the totals or percentages on this page, and each under counts the votes for Democrats in Florida.

Results summary

District

Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida by district:

District 1

The 1st district stretches along the Emerald Coast and is located in the western Panhandle anchored by Pensacola, it also includes Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, and Wright. Incumbent Republican Matt Gaetz, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. He was elected with 69% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+22.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Matt Gaetz, incumbent U.S. Representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Cris Dosev, businessman and candidate for this district in 2016
  • John Mills, retired U.S. Navy pilot

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jennifer M. Zimmerman, pediatrician
    Eliminated in primary
  • Phil Ehr, U.S. Navy commander

District 2

The 2nd district is located in the Big Bend region and is anchored by Panama City, and includes the suburbs of Tallahassee. Incumbent Republican Neal Dunn, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. He was elected with 67% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+18.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Bob Rackleff, former Leon County Commissioner
    Eliminated in primary
  • Brandon Peters, lawyer

District 3

The 3rd district is located in North Central Florida and includes the cities of Gainesville, Palatka, and Ocala. Incumbent Republican Ted Yoho, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. He was elected to a third term with 57% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+9.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 4

The 4th district is located in the First Coast region and is made up of the Jacksonville metropolitan area including Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine. Incumbent Republican John Rutherford, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. He was elected with 70% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+17.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Ges Selmont, attorney

District 5

The 5th district stretches along the northern border of Florida from the state capital, Tallahassee, to Jacksonville. Incumbent Democrat Al Lawson, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. He was elected with 64% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+12.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 6

The 6th district is located in the Surf Coast region and includes the cities of Daytona Beach, Deltona, and Palm Coast. Incumbent Republican Ron DeSantis, who had represented the district since 2013, was re-elected to a third term with 59% of the vote in 2016. He did not run for re-election in 2018, rather opting to run for governor of Florida. The district had a PVI of R+7.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Florida's 6th district is one of the 20 Republican held seats included in the second round of seats targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Debate

A debate was scheduled for September 25, but it was cancelled.

District 7

The 7th district is centered around downtown Orlando and the northern Orlando suburbs such as Sanford and Winter Park. Incumbent Democrat Stephanie Murphy, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. She was elected with 51% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of Even.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Stephanie Murphy, incumbent U.S. Representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Chardo Richardson, former president of the ACLU

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 8

The 8th district includes the Space Coast region and the cities of Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Vero Beach. Incumbent Republican Bill Posey, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 15th district from 2009 to 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected to a fifth term with 63% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+11.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Sanjay Patel, management consultant

District 9

The 9th district is located in inland Central Florida including Kissimmee, St. Cloud, and Winter Haven. Incumbent Democrat Darren Soto, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. He was elected with 57% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+5.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 10

The 10th district is centered around Orlando and the surrounding suburbs such as Lockhart, Oak Ridge, and Zellwood. Incumbent Democrat Val Demings, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. She was elected with 65% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+11.

Democratic primary

Because no write-in candidates or candidates of other parties filed to run in this district, the Democratic primary was open to all voters.

Candidates

Nominee
  • Val Demings, incumbent U.S. Representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Wade Darius, businessman

Republican primary

No Republicans filed.

General election

Predictions

Incumbent Val Demings ran unopposed in the general election. As such, no election for the position was held, and Demings was declared the winner automatically by the Board of Elections for the State of Florida.

District 11

The 11th district is located in Central Florida and includes the southern suburbs of Ocala and Spring Hill, this district also includes the retirement community known as The Villages. Incumbent Republican Daniel Webster, who had represented the district since 2017 and previously represented the 8th district from 2011 to 2013 and the 10th district from 2013 to 2017, ran for re-election. He was re-elected to a fourth term with 65% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+15.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Dana Cottrell, teacher

District 12

The 12th district is located in the Tampa Bay Area and includes Dade City, New Port Richey, and Palm Harbor. Incumbent Republican Gus Bilirakis, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 9th district from 2007 to 2013, was re-elected to a sixth term with 69% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+8.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Chris Hunter, former federal prosecutor
    Eliminated in primary
  • Stephen Perenich, tax preparer
  • Robert Tager, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2016

District 13

The 13th district is located in the Tampa Bay Area and includes Clearwater, Largo and Saint Petersburg. Incumbent Democrat Charlie Crist, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. He was elected with 52% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+2.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • George Buck, educator
    Eliminated in primary
  • Brad Sostack, navy veteran

District 14

The 14th district is centred around the city of Tampa and the immediate surrounding suburbs such as Lutz and Temple Terrace. Incumbent Democrat Kathy Castor, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 11th district from 2007 to 2013, ran for re-election. She was re-elected to a sixth term with 62% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+7.
Castor was the only candidate in 2018, and so was unopposed in the Democratic primary and general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

No Republicans filed.

General election

Predictions

Incumbent Kathy Castor ran unopposed in the general election. As such, no election for the position was held, and Castor was declared the winner automatically by the Board of Elections for the State of Florida.

District 15

The 15th district is located in inland Central Florida and is anchored by Lakeland. The district also includes the eastern suburbs of Tampa such as Brandon and Riverview. Incumbent Republican Dennis Ross, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 12th district from 2011 to 2013, was retiring.

Republican primary

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrew

  • Loretta "Leah Lax" Miller, former IDF officer
  • Curt Rogers
  • Dennis Ross, incumbent U.S. Representative

Declined

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Kristen Carlson, attorney
    Eliminated in primary
  • Andrew Learned, naval reserve officer
  • Ray Pena, retired police officer

District 16

The 16th district is located in the Suncoast region and includes Bradenton, Sarasota, and some Tampa suburbs such as FishHawk. Incumbent Republican Vern Buchanan, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 13th district from 2007 to 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected to a sixth term with 60% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+7.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Florida's 16th district is one of the 20 Republican held seats included in the second round of seats targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.

Candidates

Nominee
  • David Shapiro, attorney
    Eliminated in primary
  • Jan Schneider, attorney

District 17

The 17th district comprises most of the Florida Heartland, including the cities of Sebring and Okeechobee, as well as parts of the Suncoast, such as North Port and Port Charlotte. Incumbent Republican Tom Rooney, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 16th district from 2009 to 2013, retired. He was re-elected to a fifth term with 62% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+13.

Republican primary

Rooney announced on February 19, 2018, that he will retire from Congress and not seek re-election in 2018.

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • April Freeman, businesswoman, nominee for the 19th district in 2014 and for this seat in 2016
    Eliminated in primary
  • Bill Pollard, respiratory therapist

General election

Campaign

The Democratic nominee April Freeman died on September 24, 2018, six weeks before the election. Allen Ellison was chosen to be the Democratic nominee.

District 18

The 18th district is located in the Treasure Coast region and includes Stuart, Port St. Lucie, and the northern Palm Beach suburbs such as Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens. Incumbent Republican Brian Mast, who had represented the district since 2017, was elected with 54% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+5.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Brian Mast, incumbent U.S. Representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Dave Cummings, educator
  • Mark Freeman, businessman

Democratic primary

Florida's 18th district was included on the initial list of Republican held seats being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Brian
Mast 		Democratic
challenger 		OtherUndecided
IMGE Insights (R)July 9–12, 2018400–50%40%–10%

District 19

The 19th district is located in Southwestern Florida and includes Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, and Naples. Incumbent Republican Francis Rooney, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. He was elected with 66% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+13.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • David Holden, financial adviser
    Eliminated in primary
  • Todd James Truax, healthcare administrator

District 20

The 20th district stretches from inland South Florida with many protected areas of the Everglades and Belle Glade to the Miami metro area and includes parts of West Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale, and Miramar. Incumbent Democrat Alcee Hastings, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 23rd district from 1993 to 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected to a thirteenth term with 80% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+31.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 21

The 21st district is located in the Miami metro area and includes the West Palm Beach suburbs, such as Greenacres and Wellington, as well as Boynton Beach and Delray Beach. Incumbent Democrat Lois Frankel, who had represented the district since 2017 and previously represented the 22nd district from 2013 to 2017, ran for re-election. She was re-elected to a third term with 63% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+9.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Incumbent Lois Frankel ran unopposed in the general election. As such, no election for the position was held, and Frankel was declared the winner automatically by the Board of Elections for the State of Florida.

District 22

The 22nd district is located in the Miami metro area and includes Boca Raton and Parkland, the site of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Also, this district includes significant portions of Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. Incumbent Democrat Ted Deutch, who had represented the district since 2017 and previously represented the 19th district from 2010 to 2013 and the 21st district from 2013 to 2017, ran for re-election. He was re-elected to a fourth term with 59% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+6.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Ted Deutch, incumbent U.S. Representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Jeff Fandl, businessman

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Nicolas Kimaz, businessman
    Eliminated in primary
  • Javier Manjarres, blogger
  • Eddison Walters, real estate investor

District 23

The 23rd district is located in the Miami metro area, including Plantation, Sunrise, and Weston. Incumbent Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 20th district from 2005 to 2013, ran for re-election. She was re-elected to a seventh term with 57% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+11.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Joe Kaufman, counter-terrorism researcher, founder of Americans Against Hate, candidate for this seat 2012 and nominee in 2014 & 2016
    Eliminated in primary
  • Carlos Reyes, lawyer
  • Carla Spalding, navy veteran, nurse and Independent candidate for the 18th district in 2016

Independents

Tim Canova, who lost in the 2016 primary to Wasserman Schultz by a 57% to 43% margin, ran as an independent in the 2018 general election. Don Endriss also ran as an independent candidate.

District 24

The 24th district includes parts of Miami and its northern suburbs such as North [Miami Beach, Florida|North Miami Beach] and Miami Gardens. Democrat Frederica Wilson, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 17th district from 2011 to 2013, was re-elected to a fourth term unopposed in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+34.

Democratic primary

Because no write-in candidates or candidates of other parties filed to run in this district, the Democratic primary was open to all voters.

Candidates

Nominee
  • Frederica Wilson, incumbent U.S. Representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Ricardo de la Fuente, entrepreneur

Republican primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

General election

Both candidates were removed from the ballot which was cited for the recount in the Florida gubernatorial and United States Senate elections.

Results

Incumbent Frederica Wilson won unopposed in the general election

District 25

The 25th district includes the western Miami suburbs, such as Hialeah and Miami Lakes, and goes across the northern border of the Everglades to eastern Naples suburbs of Golden Gate and Immokalee. The district also extends upward into the Florida Heartland including Clewiston and LaBelle. Incumbent Republican Mario Díaz-Balart, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 21st district from 2011 to 2013 as well as a different version of the 25th from 2003 to 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected to an eighth term with 62% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+4.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Florida's 25th district has been included on the initial list of Republican-held seats being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.

Candidates

Nominee

District 26

The 26th district is centered on the Miami suburb of Homestead, includes most of the Everglades National Park, and extends downward into the Florida Keys, including Key West and Marathon. Incumbent Republican Carlos Curbelo, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. He was re-elected to a second term with 53% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+6.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Florida's 26th district was included on the initial list of Republican-held seats being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Carlos
Curbelo 		Democratic
opponent 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)November 8–9, 2017522± 4.3%39%53%8%

Results

Mucarsel-Powell defeated Curbelo, becoming the first Ecuadorian American and first South American-born immigrant to serve as a member of the U.S. Congress.

District 27

The 27th district is located in the Miami metro area, including Coral Gables, Kendall, Miami Beach, and portions of Miami. Incumbent Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 18th district from 1989 to 2013, retired from office in 2018. She was re-elected with 54.9% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+5.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Florida's 27th district has been included on the initial list of Republican-held seats being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.

Candidates

Nominee

Independent campaign of Mayra Joli

Mayra Joli, a Dominican-American immigration attorney and former beauty pageant contestant, ran as a pro-Donald Trump independent candidate.
Joli later, in 2020, would attract brief national attention in 2020 after sitting in the crowd behind Trump and showing animated enthusiasm during a 2020 presidential election town hall event on NBC which attendees were advertised to be undecided voters. She attempted to run for mayor of Miami in 2021, but was disqualified due to her primary residence being located outside of the city.

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Generic
Republican		Generic
Democrat		OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling (D)February 12–14, 2018620± 3.9%39%54%–7%