2020 Florida Senate election

2020 Florida Senate election

← 2018 November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03) 2022 →

20 of the 40 seats in the Florida Senate
21 seats needed for a majority
Turnout38.62%
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Wilton Simpson Audrey Gibson
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since November 26, 2018 November 19, 2018
Leader's seat 10th-Trilby 6th-Jacksonville
Last election 23 seats, 53.99% 17 seats, 45.74%
Seats won 24 16
Seat change Increase 1 Decrease 1
Popular vote 2,663,076 2,642,318
Percentage 49.03% 48.65%
Swing Decrease 4.96% Increase 2.91%

Results:
     Republican gain
     Republican hold      Democratic hold
     No election

President before election

Bill Galvano
Republican

Elected President

Wilton Simpson
Republican

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.[1]

The elections for U.S. President, U.S. House of Representatives, and the Florida House of Representatives were also held on this date.[2]

Republican operatives, supported by Florida Power & Light,[3] 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.[4] Both Artiles and Alex Rodriguez were charged and fined for electoral fraud.[5]

  1. ^ "Florida State Senate elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  2. ^ "Florida 2020 General Election".
  3. ^ Martin, Jason Garcia, Annie (December 2, 2021). "Florida Power & Light execs worked closely with consultants behind 'ghost' candidate scheme, records reveal | Special Report". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved December 2, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Fox, Greg (August 5, 2021). "Deception and dark money: Court documents show scheme of ghost candidates in Florida senate races". WESH. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  5. ^ Harper, Mark. "Florida Senate 'ghost' candidate Alex Rodriguez faces $20,000 ethics fine". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved December 2, 2021.