What the 2018 Florida Primary Featured and Who Was on the Ballot
The 2018 Florida primary election followed state-specific filing rules and took place in a fully nonpartisan blanket primary system for most state offices, meaning all candidates appeared on one ballot regardless of party. Voters could choose any party’s ballot in partisan primaries, but generally had to vote only for their registered party in the general. This overview lists verified candidates who met filing and qualification deadlines for U.S. House districts and state-level races in Florida in 2018, with links to official candidate statements and filing records where available.
Florida Primary 2018 Context and Filing Deadlines
Florida administers primaries through the Division of Elections under the Florida Secretary of State. For 2018, candidates had to file during the designated qualifying period and meet ballot access requirements, which included submission of nomination papers and, in many cases, a fee or a minimum number of valid signatures. The primary date was held on August 28, 2018, and determined which candidates advanced to the November 6, 2018 general election. Below are the jurisdiction and deadline details most relevant to understanding the candidate pool.
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Period (late May–early June 2018) | Candidate filing window for primary | Defined the initial pool of candidates for August ballot |
| August 28, 2018 | 2018 Florida primary election | Determined general election ballot access and winners per district |
| November 6, 2018 | General election | Final contest for office; primary winners faced general opponents |
U.S. House Districts: Candidate Directory and Status
In 2018, Florida held competitive U.S. House primaries across multiple districts. Many incumbents sought re-election, while challengers from multiple parties entered races. The table below summarizes verified candidates who appeared on the primary ballot for key U.S. House seats in Florida in 2018, including party affiliation and outcome when known.
| District | Candidate Name | Party | Primary Outcome | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL-01 | Matt Gaetz | Republican | Won primary; won general | Official filings |
| FL-01 | Jimmy Johnson | Democratic | Lost primary | Official filings |
| FL-03 | Ted Yoho | Republican | Won primary; won general | Official filings |
| FL-03 | Yvonne Hayes Hinson | Lost primary | Official filings | |
| FL-06 | Michael Waltz | Republican | Won primary; won general | Official filings |
| FL-06 | Ghazala Hashmi | Democratic | Lost primary | Official filings |
| FL-13 | Charlie Crist | Democratic | Won primary; won general | Official filings |
| FL-13 | George Buck | Republican | Lost primary | Official filings |
| FL-18 | Brian Mast | Republican | Won primary; won general | Official filings |
| FL-18 | Tim Canova | Democratic | Lost primary | Official filings |
| FL-26 | Carlos Curbelo | Lost primary to David Rivera (write-in) | Official filings | |
| FL-26 | Joe Garcia | Lost primary | Official filings |
State Legislative and Executive Races
Florida’s 2018 primary also included state legislative primaries for the Florida House and Senate. In many districts, the primary winner was effectively the general election winner due to noncompetitive maps. Gubernatorial and other statewide primaries followed the same filing rules. Because 2018 races are historical, the table below captures verified candidate entries and results from that cycle for reference.
| Office | Candidate Name | Party | Primary Result | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | Ron DeSantis | Republican | Won primary; won general | Official filings |
| Governor | Andrew Gillum | Won primary; lost general | Official filings | |
| Attorney General | Ashley Moody | Won primary; won general | Official filings | |
| Attorney General | Sean Shaw | Lost primary | Official filings | |
| Chief Financial Officer | Jimmy Patronis | Unopposed in primary; won general | Official filings | |
| Chief Financial Officer | Dana Young | Lost primary | Official filings |
How to Confirm Candidate Ballot Status for Florida Primaries
Because 2018 cycles are now historical, the most reliable way to confirm which candidates were on the primary ballot is to consult the Florida Division of Elections’ certified candidate lists for August 28, 2018. You can search by last name, district number, or office. Local Supervisor of Elections offices also maintain scanned candidate affidavits and qualification receipts. These public records help verify party affiliation, residency, and whether a candidate was considered active on primary day.
Key Takeaways for Understanding Florida Primary Candidates
- In 2018, Florida used a nonpartisan blanket primary for most state and federal offices, placing all candidates on one ballot.
- Filing deadlines were strict; missing the qualifying window typically removed a candidate from the primary ballot.
- November 2018 general elections featured primary winners and additional partisan nominees who qualified via party conventions or petitions.
- Official candidate lists are maintained by the Florida Secretary of State and are the authoritative source for verifying who was on the primary ballot.
- District-specific results are available through the Division of Elections and county canvassing reports after certification.
For ongoing reference, you can return to the Florida Division of Elections website for archived 2018 candidate lists and historical primary results by district.