2018 Florida Senate election

2018 Florida Senate election
Election name	2018 United States Senate election in Florida
Country	Florida
Type	presidential
Previous election	2012 United States Senate election in Florida
Previous year	2012
Next election	2024 United States Senate election in Florida
Next year	2024
Election date	November 6, 2018
Turnout	53.7%
Nominee1	Rick Scott
Party1	Republican Party
Popular vote1	4,099,505
Percentage1	50.05%
Nominee2	Bill Nelson
Party2	Democratic Party
Popular vote2	4,089,472
Percentage2	49.93%
Title	U.S. Senator
Before election	Bill Nelson
Before party	Democratic Party
After election	Rick Scott
After party	Republican Party

2018 Florida Senate election The 2018 United States Senate election in Florida was held November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent Florida. Incumbent Bill Nelson, a member of the Democratic Party, sought reelection against Rick Scott, then Governor of Florida and a member of the Republican Party. The race attracted national attention from figures including Donald Trump, Sean Combs, Bernie Sanders, and organizations such as the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Background

Incumbent Bill Nelson was first elected to the United States Senate in 2000 after serving as Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida and as a member of the United States House of Representatives. Nelson's tenure included votes on legislation involving Affordable Care Act, Hurricane Katrina, and oversight of NASA activities tied to Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. His 2012 reelection coincided with contests featuring Marco Rubio and national debates over Medicare and Social Security. By 2018 the seat was a top target for the Republican Party amid a nationwide struggle for control of the United States Senate led by strategists such as Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer.

Primary elections

The Republican primary was highlighted by the entry of Rick Scott, whose background included co-founding Colony NorthStar and serving two terms as Governor. Republican challengers included Luke Messer, Carlos López-Cantera, and several local politicians and activists, while national committees such as the National Republican Senatorial Committee invested in the contest. On the Democratic side, incumbent Nelson faced primary opposition from Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and other minor candidates; the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee monitored viability amid fundraising fights involving Tom Steyer and progressive groups aligned with Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. High-profile surrogates including Marco Rubio and Pam Bondi appeared in support of Republican candidates, while Ellen DeGeneres and Ava DuVernay supported various Democratic-aligned efforts.

General election

The general election pitted Rick Scott against Bill Nelson, with third-party or independent candidacies from figures connected to organizations like the Libertarian Party and the Green Party. National attention brought visits from Donald Trump, who campaigned for Republicans including Rick Scott, and from Democrats such as Bernie Sanders who campaigned on issues like Medicare for All and climate change tied to Everglades restoration. Major newspapers including the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, and broadcasters like CNN and Fox News covered debates over Hurricane Maria relief, Florida education funding after the Parkland shooting, and coastal concerns related to Hurricane Irma and sea level rise.

Campaign and controversies

The campaign featured contentious exchanges over Medicare policy, taxation, and records from Scott's tenure as Governor with criticism from Nelson about tax cuts passed by the Florida Legislature during Scott's administration. Controversies included debates over life insurance investments tied to Colony NorthStar and reported nursing home violations in Florida that opponents highlighted. Cybersecurity and election administration emerged as flashpoints after statements by Nelson about alleged Russian interference, prompting responses citing investigations by FBI and concerns raised by Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. Accusations of negative ad campaigns involved political groups such as Priorities USA Action and American Crossroads, while social media activity connected to accounts linked to Cambridge Analytica-era tactics prompted scrutiny from Federal Election Commission observers and civil society groups including League of Women Voters and ACLU affiliates. Late-count absentee ballots and recount procedures invoked statutes under the Florida Department of State and the Florida Secretary of State's office, with legal filings referencing precedents in cases argued before the Supreme Court of Florida.

Results

Initial results showed an extremely close outcome, with Rick Scott narrowly leading Nelson in the statewide vote totals. The margin triggered a machine recount under Florida law, after which the Florida Division of Elections certified a victory for Rick Scott by a few thousand votes out of over eight million cast. The result was challenged by Nelson in legal filings seeking hand recounts and closer scrutiny of provisional and absentee ballots; those challenges were litigated in state courts, with judges referencing procedures from prior contested elections such as the 2000 Florida recount. After litigation and certification, Rick Scott was declared the winner and prepared to assume the Senate seat, displacing incumbent Nelson.

Aftermath and impact

The replacement of Nelson by Rick Scott altered the balance in the United States Senate and affected committee assignments involving senators such as Dianne Feinstein and Lindsey Graham. The outcome influenced strategies for the 2020 United States Senate elections and state-level contests in Florida, shaping approaches by the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee toward turnout operations in counties like Miami-Dade, Broward, and Orange County. The election prompted renewed focus on voter registration drives led by groups including NextGen America and Rock the Vote, and legislative debates in the Florida Legislature about election procedures and absentee ballot laws. National analysts from outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post cited the race when assessing the role of gubernatorial incumbency and billionaire-backed spending in Senate pickup strategies for subsequent cycles.

Category:2018 elections in the United States Category:United States Senate elections in Florida