Florida Special Election 2026: Live race calls expose a quiet scramble for power in key districts
Florida special election 2026 is unfolding across multiple legislative vacancies, with live race calls already coming in for Florida House District 51 and Florida House District 87 and heightened attention on the State Senate District 14 contest in the Tampa Bay area.
What was decided Tuesday — and what was called before 7: 30 p. m. ET
Two Florida House special election races have been called: District 51 and District 87. In House District 51, Republican Hilary Holley competed against Democrat Edwin Perez to replace a seat vacated when Julie Tomkow resigned; Holley garnered almost 55 percent of the vote, with the race called shortly before 7: 30 p. m. ET. Holley will represent part of Polk County.
House District 87 was also called, filling a vacancy created when Republican Mike Caruso resigned in August after being appointed Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller.
Florida Special Election 2026: Why District 14 and District 87 drew outsized attention
The State Senate District 14 special election is a focal point because it fills a vacancy left when Jay Collins resigned in August after being appointed Lieutenant Governor. The district encompasses portions of Tampa and adjacent areas, and it covers part of Hillsborough County, including South Tampa, Carrollwood, and Westchase.
The nominees in the District 14 contest were state Rep. Josie Tomkow (R) and Brian Nathan (D), described as a Navy veteran and union leader. Tomkow, who is term-limited, resigned her seat in the state house to run for senate—setting off the downstream House District 51 race that was called Tuesday evening.
In House District 87, attention has been intense because the district includes Mar-a-Lago, identified as President Trump’s primary residence. The nominees were Republican Jon Maples and Democrat Emily Gregory, and each received over 80% of the vote in special primaries held in January.
What’s at stake in the legislature — and what comes next
Tuesday’s contests are part of a broader effort to fill vacancies in the Florida Legislature. Three vacancies were slated to be filled special elections Tuesday, and the seats were previously held by Republicans.
Republicans hold a 27-11 edge over Democrats in the Florida Senate, with one independent and one vacancy noted. In the Florida State House, Republicans hold an 83-33 margin over Democrats in the 120-seat chamber, with four vacancies noted.
Not all vacancies are being settled through a Tuesday vote. A special election in District 52 was cancelled because Republican Samantha Scott was unopposed after the lone Democrat who filed withdrew in November; Scott is eligible to be seated after today. Another vacancy remains in the Miami-area District 113 after Republican Vicki Lopez resigned in November following an appointment to the Miami-Dade County Commission. For District 113, a special primary is scheduled for August 18, with the special election set for November 3, with those dates concurrent with the regular election for a two-year term.
Florida special election 2026 is therefore not a single contest but a chain of contests—some decided by voters on Tuesday, others resolved through cancellations or scheduled later in the year—each triggered by resignations and appointments that reshaped the map of who represents which communities in Tallahassee.
