# 2018 Florida Senate election

In the elections to the Florida State Senate that were held on November 6, 2018, 20 of the 40 seats were contested in regular elections and two seats in special elections. The winners of the 20 regular elections would serve four-year terms from November 6, 2018, to November 6, 2022, and the winners of the two special elections would serve two-year terms from November 6, 2018, to November 6, 2020.

## Results summary
### Statewide

| | | | | Vacant | Total |
| | | Republican | Democratic | Vacant | Total |
| Last election (2016) | Last election (2016) | 25 | 15 | 0 | 40 |
| Before these elections | Before these elections | 22 | 16 | 0 | 40 |
| Not up | Not up | 8 | 10 | 0 | 18 |
| | Odd (2016→2020) | 8 | 10 | 0 | 18 |
| Up | Up | 14 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
| | Even (2018→2022) | 14 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
| | Special: Odd | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Result | Result | 23 | 17 | 0 | 40 |

### Retiring incumbents

There were no Democrats term-limited from their seats.
* Dorothy Hukill, District 14 (retiring, later deceased)
* Jack Latvala, District 16 (term-limited, resigned due to sexual harassment allegations)
* Greg Steube, District 23 (retiring, ran for CD-17)
* Joe Negron, District 25 (term-limited)
* Denise Grimsley, District 26 (retiring, ran for Agricultural Commissioner)
* Rene Garcia, District 36 (term-limited)

### Districts

| District | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Others | Others | Total | Margin | Margin | Result |
| District | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total | Votes | % | Result |
| District 2 | 149,157 | 75.3 | 48,979 | 24.7 | - | - | 198,136 | 100,178 | 50.6 | Republican hold |
| District 4 | 149,347 | 63.4 | 80,598 | 34.2 | 5,514 | 2.3 | 235,459 | 68,749 | 29.2 | Republican hold |
| District 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Democratic hold |
| District 8 | 100,690 | 49.4 | 98,692 | 48.4 | 4,319 | 2.1 | 203,701 | 1,998 | 1.0 | Republican hold |
| District 10 | 147,601 | 65.0 | 79,349 | 35.0 | - | - | 226,950 | 68,252 | 30.1 | Republican hold |
| District 12 | 172,776 | 65.3 | 91,765 | 34.7 | 21 | 0.0 | 264,562 | 81,011 | 30.6 | Republican hold |
| District 14 | 124,055 | 56.3 | 96,161 | 43.7 | - | - | 220,216 | 27,894 | 12.7 | Republican hold |
| District 16 | 111,997 | 52.2 | 102,407 | 47.8 | - | - | 214,404 | 9,590 | 4.5 | Republican hold |
| District 18 | 103,667 | 49.9 | 104,078 | 50.1 | - | - | 207,745 | 411 | 0.2 | Democratic gain |
| District 20 | 101,021 | 53.5 | 87,863 | 46.5 | - | - | 188,884 | 13,158 | 7.0 | Republican hold |
| District 22 | 105,575 | 52.8 | 94,295 | 47.2 | - | - | 199,870 | 11,280 | 5.6 | Republican hold |
| District 23 | 143,346 | 56.5 | 110,587 | 43.4 | - | - | 253,933 | 32,759 | 12.9 | Republican gain |
| District 24 | 116,415 | 54.3 | 98,104 | 45.7 | - | - | 214,519 | 18,311 | 8.5 | Republican hold |
| District 25 | 117,056 | 54.3 | 98,417 | 45.7 | - | - | 215,473 | 18,639 | 8.7 | Republican gain |
| District 26 | 117,979 | 65.1 | 63,253 | 34.9 | - | - | 181,232 | 54,726 | 30.2 | Republican hold |
| District 28 | 138,293 | 64.5 | 73,000 | 34.5 | - | - | 211,293 | 65,293 | 30.9 | Republican hold |
| District 30 | - | - | 132,241 | 99.7 | 385 | 0.3 | 132,626 | 131,858 | 99.4 | Democratic hold |
| District 32 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Democratic hold |
| District 34 | - | - | 124,578 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 124,578 | 124,578 | 100.0 | Democratic hold |
| District 36 | 66,361 | 54.1 | 56,395 | 45.9 | - | - | 122,756 | 9,966 | 8.1 | Republican hold |
| District 38 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Democratic hold |
| District 40 | 79,068 | 46.5 | 90,924 | 53.5 | - | - | 169,992 | 11,856 | 7.0 | Democratic hold |

### Closest races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
* District 18, 0.2% gain
* District 8, 1%
* District 16, 4.4%
* District 22, 5.6%
* District 40, 7%
* District 20, 7%
* District 36, 8.2%
* District 24, 8.6%
* District 25, 8.6%

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Governing | Lean R | October 8, 2018 |

## District 2

District 2 consists of Bay, Holmes, Jackson, Walton, and Washington counties, and part of Okaloosa County. Incumbent George Gainer was re-elected by a margin of 51 percent.

### Republican primary

Incumbent George Gainer won the primary unopposed.

### Democratic primary

Attorney Gigi Gibson won the primary unopposed.

### General election
#### Predictions

MCI Maps gave the second district a rating of "Safe GOP".

##### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | George Gainer (incumbent) | 149,157 | 75.3 |
| | Democratic | "Gigi" Gibson | 48,979 | 24.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100,178 | 50.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 198,136 | 100.0 |

## District 4

District 4 consists of Nassau County and part of Duval County counties. Incumbent Aaron Bean was re-elected by a margin of 29 percent.

### Republican primary

Incumbent Republican Aaron Bean defeated challenger Carlos E. Slay in the Republican primary by a margin of 75 percent.

#### Candidates

* Aaron Bean, incumbent Florida senator since 2012
* Carlos E. Slay, former Nassau County tax collector candidate

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Aaron Bean (incumbent) | 50,275 | 87.4 |
| | Republican | Carlos E. Slay | 7,274 | 12.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43,001 | 74.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,549 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Aaron Bean (incumbent) | 149,347 | 63.4 |
| | Democratic | Billee Bussard | 80,598 | 34.2 |
| | Libertarian | Joanna Liberty Tavares | 5,514 | 2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68,749 | 29.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 235,459 | 100.0 |

## District 6

District 6 consists of part of Duval County. Incumbent Audrey Gibson was re-elected unopposed.

## District 8

District 8 consists of Alachua and Putnam counties, and part of Marion County. Incumbent Keith Perry was re-elected by a margin of one percent.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Keith Perry (incumbent) | 100,690 | 49.4 |
| | Democratic | Kayser Enneking | 98,692 | 48.4 |
| | Independent | Charles E. Goston | 4,319 | 2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,998 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 203,701 | 100.0 |

## District 10

District 10 consists of Citrus and Hernando counties, and part of Pasco County. Incumbent Wilton Simpson was re-elected by a margin of 30 percent.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Wilton Simpson (incumbent) | 147,601 | 65.0 |
| | Democratic | Michael Cottrell | 79,349 | 35.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68,252 | 30.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 226,950 | 100.0 |

## District 12

District 12 consists of Sumter County, and parts of Lake, and Marion counties. Incumbent Dennis Baxley was re-elected by a margin of 31 percent.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dennis Baxley (incumbent) | 172,776 | 65.3 |
| | Democratic | Gary McKechnie | 91,765 | 34.7 |
| | Write-in | Kay Gray | 21 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 81,011 | 30.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 264,562 | 100.0 |

## District 14

District 14 consists of parts of Brevard and Volusia counties. Incumbent state senator Dorothy Hukill, Republican, died on October 2018 from cervical cancer. As her name was already printed on ballots, votes cast for her were counted for Tom A. Wright, the Republican nominee, who won the election by a margin of 13 percent.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom A. Wright | 124,055 | 56.3 |
| | Democratic | "Mel" Martin | 96,161 | 43.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27,894 | 12.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 220,216 | 100.0 |

## District 16

District 16 consists of parts of Pasco and Pinellas counties.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Ed Hooper, former Florida representative and Deputy Whip from 2006 to 2014
* Leo Karruli, entrepreneur

#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ed Hooper | 35,303 | 79.4 |
| | Republican | Leo Karruli | 9,141 | 20.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26,162 | 58.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,444 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ed Hooper | 111,997 | 52.2 |
| | Democratic | Amanda Murphy | 102,407 | 47.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,590 | 4.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 214,404 | 100.0 |

## District 18

District 18 consists of part of Hillsborough County.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Janet Cruz | 104,078 | 50.1 |
| | Republican | Dana Young (incumbent) | 103,667 | 49.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 411 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 207,745 | 100.0 |

## District 20

District 20 consists of parts of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk counties.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Tom Lee, incumbent senator since 2012 and from 1996 to 2006, former senate president from 2004 to 2006
* John Manners Houman, Republican nominee for Florida Senate in 2016

#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Lee (incumbent) | 30,397 | 84.9 |
| | Republican | John Manners Houman | 5,422 | 15.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,158 | 69.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,819 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Lee (incumbent) | 101,021 | 53.5 |
| | Democratic | Kathy Lewis | 87,863 | 46.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,158 | 7.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 188,884 | 100.0 |

## District 22

District 22 consists of parts of Lake and Polk counties.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kelli Stargel (incumbent) | 105,575 | 52.8 |
| | Democratic | Bob Doyel | 94,295 | 47.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,280 | 5.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 199,870 | 100.0 |

## District 23

District 23 consists of Sarasota County and part of Charlotte County. An election for this district was not scheduled to occur until the 2020 general elections, but a special election was scheduled concurrent with the 2018 general elections due to a vacancy that occurred as a result of the resignation of then-state senator Greg Steube to run for the United States House of Representatives.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joe Gruters | 143,346 | 56.5 |
| | Democratic | Faith Olivia Babis | 110,587 | 43.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32,759 | 12.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 253,933 | 100.0 |

## District 24

District 24 consists of part of Pinellas County.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jeff Brandes (incumbent) | 116,415 | 54.3 |
| | Democratic | Lindsay Cross | 98,104 | 45.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,311 | 8.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 214,519 | 100.0 |

## District 25

District 25 consists of Martin and St. Lucie counties, and part of Palm Beach County. An election for this district was not scheduled to occur until the 2020 general elections, but a special election was scheduled concurrent with the 2018 general elections due to a vacancy that occurred as a result of the resignation of former Senate President Joe Negron.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Gayle Harrell, Florida representative since 2012
* Belinda Keiser, former member of Florida Constitution Revision Commission, delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gayle Harrell | 117,056 | 54.3 |
| | Democratic | Robert Levy | 98,417 | 45.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,639 | 8.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 215,473 | 100.0 |

## District 26

District 26 consists of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee counties, and parts of Charlotte, Lee, and Polk counties.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ben Albritton | 117,979 | 65.1 |
| | Democratic | Catherine Price | 63,253 | 34.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54,726 | 30.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 181,232 | 100.0 |

## District 28

District 28 consists of Collier and Hendry counties, and part of Lee County.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kathleen Passidomo (incumbent) | 138,293 | 65.5 |
| | Democratic | Annisa Karim | 73,000 | 34.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 65,293 | 30.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 211,293 | 100.0 |

## District 30

District 30 consists of part of Palm Beach County.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bobby Powell (incumbent) | 132,241 | 99.7 |
| | Write-in | Josh Santos | 385 | 0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 131,856 | 99.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 132,626 | 100.0 |

## District 32

District 32 consists of part of Broward County. Incumbent Lauren Book was elected unposed both in the primary and general election.

## District 34

District 34 consists of part of Broward County.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gary Farmer (incumbent) | 124,578 | 100.0 |
| | Write-in | Richard Hal Sturm | 0 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 124,578 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 124,578 | 100.0 |

## District 36

District 36 consists of part of Miami-Dade County.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Manny Díaz Jr. | 66,361 | 54.1 |
| | Democratic | David Perez | 56,395 | 45.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,966 | 8.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 122,756 | 100.0 |

## District 38

District 38 consists of part of Miami-Dade County. Democrat Jason Pizzo beat incumbent Daphne Campbell in the Democratic primary, 54%-46%. The general election was cancelled, meaning Pizzo was the victor of the race.

## District 40

District 40 consists of part of Miami-Dade County.

### General election
#### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Annette Taddeo (incumbent) | 90,924 | 53.5 |
| | Republican | Marili Cancio | 79,068 | 46.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,856 | 7.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 169,992 | 100.0 |