Governor Ron DeSantis has reportedly announced special elections to fill the vacancies left by outgoing state Senator Randy Fine and former state Representative Joel Rudman, both of whom are campaigning for congressional positions.
On Tuesday, DeSantis promulgated executive orders scheduling special primary elections for April 1 and, if required, special general elections for June 10 in Senate District 19 and House District 3, as per documents available on the state Division of Elections website.
R-Brevard County is departing from the Senate effective March 31 to participate in a special election to succeed former U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, who was appointed national security advisor by President Donald Trump.
The Senate district comprises a portion of Brevard County.
Rudman, R-Navarre, resigned from his state House seat on January 1 to participate in a special election to succeed former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, who vacated his congressional position in November.
House District 3 comprises portions of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties.
The House district will lack a representative for a portion of this year’s legislative session, commencing on March 4 and concluding on May 2.
If a special general election is required to succeed Fine, the Senate district will lack representation for the latter half of the session.
State Representative Debbie Mayfield, R-Melbourne, has announced her intention to campaign for the position vacated by Fine.
Mayfield served in the Senate for eight years before to being elected to the House in November. She departed from the Senate due to term limits.
Simultaneously, six candidates have established campaign accounts to contest in House District 3.
Although the accounts are designated by the state as active for the 2026 elections, they may be converted to the special election.
The Republican candidates are Nathan Boyles, Hayden Burkhard, and Joshua. Shane Sik, Cynthia Darlene Smith, Jamie Lee Wells, and Democrat Dondre Markell Maurice Wise.
DeSantis promptly initiated special elections to fill the congressional vacancies left by Waltz and Gaetz, but he delayed in calling the special elections for the legislative positions.
[READ MORE: DeSantis Urges People to Stay Home as Florida Breaks Snowfall Record]
