The 2020 elections for the Florida Senate took place on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, to elect state senators from 20 of 40 districts. The Republican Party has held a Senate majority since 1995. The result was a one-seat gain for the Republicans, thus maintaining their majority.
The elections for U.S. President, U.S. House of Representatives, and the Florida House of Representatives were also held on this date.
Republican operatives, supported by Florida Power & Light, ran sham ghost candidates in three races. In District 37, former senator Frank Artiles had Alex Rodriguez placed on the ballot to successfully siphon votes from Senator José Javier Rodríguez. Both Artiles and Alex Rodriguez were charged and fined for electoral fraud.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportOctober 21, 2020
Competitive races The most competitive races are expected to be the Democratic-held open Senate District 3 in North Florida, the Republican-held open District 9 to the northeast of Orlando, the special election in the Tampa area's open Republican-held District 20, the Democratic-held Senate District 37 in South Florida, and the Republican-held open District 39 in South Florida.
2016 Presidential Results and 2020 Candidates in Competitive Races: Senate district Clinton 2016 vote share Trump 2016 vote share 2020 Democratic nominee 2020 Republican nominee District 3 52.60% Clinton 43.95% Trump Loranne Ausley Marva Harris Preston District 9 45.98% Clinton 49.87% Trump Patricia Sigman Jason Brodeur District 20 43.99% Clinton 52.28% Trump Kathy Lewis Danny Burgess District 37 59.55% Clinton 37.89% Trump José Javier Rodríguez Ileana Garcia District 39 53.74% Clinton 43.49% Trump Javier Fernandez Ana Maria Rodriguez
Overview PartyVotes%SeatsTotalbeforeUpWonTotalafter+/−Republican Party of Florida2,663,07649.0323101124 +1Florida Democratic Party2,642,31848.651710916 -1Independent125,4972.310000 -Write-in6030.010000 -Total5,431,494100.0040202040±0Source: Florida Division of Elections
Closest races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%: gain
Primary election polling District 27 - Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HeatherFitzhagen RayRodriguez UndecidedSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsJuly 28, 2020463 (LV)± 4.6%18%59%23%Remington Research Group/Heather FitzhagenRemington Research Group/Heather FitzhagenJuly 20, 20201,229 (LV)± 3%22%44%34%Remington Research Group/Heather FitzhagenRemington Research Group/Heather FitzhagenJune 18–19, 2020 460 (LV) ± 4.5%34% 24%42%
District 29 - Democratic Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TinaPolsky Irving "Irv"Slosberg UndecidedSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsAugust 14, 2020477 (LV)± 4.5%49%37%13%
District 39 - Democratic Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Javier E.Fernandez Daniel "Dan"Horton-Diaz UndecidedSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsAugust 1–2, 2020203 (LV)± 6.9%24%16%61%
Retiring incumbents
Democrats 3rd district: Bill Montford (term-limited) 29th district: Kevin Rader (retiring) 35th district: Oscar Braynon (term-limited)
Republicans 5th district: Rob Bradley (term-limited) 9th district: David Simmons (term-limited) 21st district: Bill Galvano (term-limited) 27th district: Lizbeth Benacquisto (term-limited) 39th district: Anitere Flores (term-limited)
General election polling District 3 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LoranneAusley (D) MarvaPreston (R) UndecidedSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsOctober 17–18, 2020948 (LV) –51% 44% 5%ALG Research/Florida Senate Victory Fund/FDLCCALG Research/Florida Senate Victory Fund/FDLCCOctober 15, 2020503 (V) –48%40% –
District 9 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JasonBrodeur (R) PatriciaSigman (D) JestineIanotti (I) UndecidedSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsOctober 31 – November 1, 2020522 (LV)± 4.3%42%49%2%7%St. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsOctober 17–18, 2020490 (LV) ± 4.4% 43%52% – 5%GQR Research/Florida Senate Victory Fund/FDLCCGQR Research/Florida Senate Victory Fund/FDLCCOctober 16, 2020400 (V) –42%42% – –
District 20 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DannyBurgess (R) KathyLewis (D) UndecidedSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsSt. Pete Polls/Florida PoliticsOctober 24–25, 2020644 (LV) ± 3.9%45% 44% 12%
District 37 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error José JavierRodríguez (D) IleanaGarcia (R)SEA Research/Florida Senate Victory Fund/FDLCCSEA Research/Florida Senate Victory Fund/FDLCCOctober 13, 2020400 (V) –42%37%
District 39 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Ana MariaRodriguez (R) JavierFernandez (D)GQR Research/Florida Senate Victory Fund/FDLCCGQR Research/Florida Senate Victory Fund/FDLCCOctober 9, 2020503 (V) –43%43%Tyson Group/Let's Preserve the American Dream PACTyson Group/Let's Preserve the American Dream PAC September 8–11, 2020 – (V) – 37%31%Tyson Group/Let's Preserve the American Dream PACTyson Group/Let's Preserve the American Dream PAC July, 2020 – (V) – 31%28%
Results District 1 • District 3 • District 5 • District 7 • District 9 • District 11 • District 13 • District 15 • District 17 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 23 • District 25 • District 27 • District 29 • District 31 • District 35 • District 37 • District 39__NOTOC__
District 1
District 3 + 2020 Florida's 3rd State Senate district candidate forum Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Loranne Ausley Marva Preston1 Sep. 22, 2020 League of Women Voters of TallahasseeTallahassee Democrat Jim Rosica YouTube
District 5
District 7
District 9 + 2020 Florida's 9th State Senate district debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Jason Brodeur Patricia Sigman1 Oct. 6, 2020 WESH Greg Fox YouTube
District 11
District 13
District 15
District 17
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 23
District 25
District 27
District 29
District 31
District 35
District 37
District 39
Notes
Partisan clients
See also 2020 Florida elections 2020 Florida House of Representatives election Politics of Florida Political party strength in Florida Florida Democratic Party Republican Party of Florida Government of Florida
References
External links Florida Elections Commission government website (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)