Overview of the 2018 Midterms in Florida
The 2018 general election on November 6, 2018, was the third cycle under post-2010 redistricting in Florida and occurred alongside heated U.S. Senate and gubernatorial contests. This evergreen explainer summarizes verified Florida 2018 election results for federal, state, and ballot measures, emphasizing margins, certification dates, and official sources. Outcomes reflect final certified results from the Florida Division of Elections and relevant adjudications through late 2018.
Federal Results in Florida 2018
U.S. Senate Race
The U.S. Senate contest between incumbent Bill Nelson (D) and Governor Rick Scott (R) remained among Florida’s most scrutinized races in 2018. After Election Night, machine counts and manual recounts in three counties were conducted under state statutory deadlines. The race was certified with the following official outcomes:
| Contest | Winner | Final Certified Margin | Certification Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate (Class 3) | Rick Scott (R) | 10,033 votes (0.25%) | November 18, 2018 |
Post-certification recount and litigation challenges did not alter the certified result. Official canvass reports and court orders are available through the Florida Division of Elections and the state supreme court dockets.
U.S. House of Representatives
All 27 Florida U.S. House districts held elections in 2018. Several districts featured competitive primaries and general elections, with party control remaining split post-election. Notable flips included districts where incumbents were defeated or open seats changed party. The following table summarizes key U.S. House outcomes by district:
| District | Incumbent | 2018 Winner | Party Flip |
|---|---|---|---|
| FL-26 | Carlos Curbelo (R) | Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) | D gained |
| FL-10 | Daniel Webster (R) | Daniel Webster (R) | No change |
| FL-21 | Lois Frankel (D) | Lois Frankel (D) | No change |
| FL-27 | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) | Maria Elvira Salazar (R) | No party change |
For a comprehensive district-by-district list, the Division of Elections publishes precinct-level canvass reports with candidate vote totals and official district boundaries as defined by court orders in place for 2018.
Statewide Executive Races
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Incumbent Republican Rick Scott ran for governor against Democratic candidate Ron DeSantis. After initial Election Night results and a narrow margin triggering a machine recount, the governor’s race was certified with the following outcome:
| Contest | Winner | Final Certified Margin | Certification Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | Ron DeSantis (R) | 33,683 votes (0.40%) | November 19, 2018 |
Jeff Kottkamp (R) was certified as lieutenant governor with a margin of approximately 35,106 votes over his opponent. Challenges regarding election administration were heard in state courts but did not overturn the certified results.
Attorney General and Chief Financial Officer
The attorney general and CFO races also underwent recounts and legal review. Certified results are as follows:
| Contest | Winner | Final Certified Margin | Certification Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney General | Ashley Moody (R) | 352,324 votes (5.84%) | November 19, 2018 |
| Chief Financial Officer | Jimmy Patronis (R) | 622,143 votes (10.41%) | November 19, 2018 |
These margins satisfied statutory thresholds, and no statewide contest in 2018 resulted in a reversal of the certified outcome after final adjudication.
State Legislative and Constitutional Amendments
Florida Legislature Elections
All 40 state Senate seats and all 120 state House seats were up in 2018. Partisan composition shifted modestly, with Republicans maintaining large majorities in both chambers following certification. Detailed district-by-district results are available from the Florida House and Senate archives and county canvass reports.
Ballot Measures
Florida voters considered multiple constitutional amendments in 2018. Measures receiving over 60% of the vote were certified and added to the state constitution. A summary of measures that passed or failed follows:
| Amendment | Description | Result | Approval (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 4 | Voting rights restoration for felons with fines/legally owed debts resolved | Passed | 64.6 |
| Amendment 2 | Medical marijuana expansion to certain qualifying patients | Passed | 71.0 |
| Amendment 9 | Prohibit vaping in indoor workplaces | Passed | 58.9 |
| Amendment 3 | Vending machine regulation and permits | Failed | 48.1 |
| Amendment 5 | Supermajority requirements for tax/revenue measures | Passed | 51.1 |
| Amendment 1 | Homestead property tax assessment | Passed | 62.5 |
Where margins fell below 0.5%, canvassing and recount procedures defined in Florida law were followed. Amendment certification is binding unless successfully challenged in state or federal court, which did not occur for any certified 2018 measures.
Key Dates and Certification Timeline
Florida state law governs deadlines for canvassing, recounts, and certification. Key milestones in the 2018 cycle included:
- Election Day: November 6, 2018
- Recount thresholds and initiation: races within 0.5% triggered machine recounts; manual recounts followed where required
- November 15, 2018: County canvass certification
- November 18–19, 2018: Statewide contest certifications
- December 5, 2018: Certification of amendment results and final canvass
These dates reflect the 2018 cycle under then-current statutes and procedures. Subsequent legal or legislative changes have modified some processes, but the 2018 timeline remains a useful reference for understanding Florida election administration.
Official Sources and Verification
All results cited above derive from official Florida Division of Elections reports, county canvassing documents, and court-ordered final tallies. Primary sources include:
- Florida Division of Elections 2018 Canvass and Report Archive
- State Supreme Court docket entries related to 2018 election litigation
- U.S. District Court and Eleventh Circuit filings on December 2018 matters
Because 2018 results are no longer subject to certification, these records serve as the definitive reference for historical outcomes and are broadly used for research, compliance, and retrospective analysis.
Context and Legacy of the 2018 Midterms in Florida
The 2018 elections in Florida were consequential for both state and national politics. High-stakes races, closely watched amendments, and litigation over certification procedures shaped public discourse and policy debates for years. Understanding the verified outcomes supports accurate historical analysis, scholarly work, and comparative assessments of election administration. These results remain foundational for anyone studying Florida voting trends, redistricting effects, and electoral reforms enacted in the following cycles.
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