Florida voters will head to the polls Aug. 18 to select the Democratic and Republican nominees in the state’s 2026 special election for the U.S. Senate.
The statewide race follows the resignation of former U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who left the Senate after becoming U.S. secretary of state. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed then-Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to temporarily fill the vacancy in January 2025.
Moody is seeking to retain the seat but faces three challengers in the Republican primary. State Rep. Angie Nixon and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman are competing for the Democratic nomination.
The winners of the two party primaries will advance to the Nov. 3 general election, where they will also face no-party candidate Neil J. Gillespie. The winner will serve the remaining two years of Rubio’s Senate term, which ends in January 2029.
Here is what Florida voters should know about the candidates. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name within their respective parties.
Democratic Candidates
Angie Nixon
Angie Nixon is a Florida state representative, union organizer, small business owner and mother of five from Jacksonville. First elected to the Florida House in 2020, Nixon represents House District 13. Before entering elected office, she worked as an organizer and served as executive director of Florida for All, a statewide coalition focused on voter registration and community organizing. Nixon also founded the Melanin Market and operates a Jacksonville bookstore and community hub.
Nixon is campaigning on lowering costs for working families, expanding access to affordable housing, strengthening labor protections and making health care and child care more affordable. Her platform includes taxing billionaires, closing corporate tax loopholes, expanding Medicare benefits, addressing price gouging and investing in affordable housing. She also supports stronger regulations on artificial intelligence, protecting personal data and increasing antitrust enforcement against major technology companies.
Campaign website: AngieNixon.com
Alex Vindman
Alex Vindman is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and former director for European affairs on the National Security Council. Born in the Soviet Union, Vindman came to the United States as a child with his family. He served in the Army for 21 years, was wounded while deployed in Iraq and received a Purple Heart. Vindman became nationally known after reporting concerns about President Donald Trump’s 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which became central to Trump’s first impeachment.
Vindman is campaigning on reducing the cost of living, lowering health care and property insurance expenses, fighting government corruption and holding elected officials accountable. He has also emphasized protecting democracy, strengthening national security and limiting the influence of corporations and special interests in Washington.
Campaign website: AlexVindman.com
Republican Candidates
Chris Gleason
Chris Gleason is a U.S. Army veteran and technology consultant who describes himself as a government and campaign finance whistleblower. Gleason says he developed data analysis tools used to identify suspicious political donation patterns involving ActBlue, a fundraising platform primarily used by Democratic candidates and organizations. His allegations have drawn attention from Republican lawmakers and officials.
Gleason’s platform focuses on reducing government spending and regulations, expanding domestic energy production, strengthening border security and addressing housing affordability. He also supports restrictions on institutional investors purchasing residential properties, expanded protections for what he calls medical freedom, changes to the education system and stricter election laws.
Campaign website: VoteForGleason.com
Ashley Moody
Ashley Moody is Florida’s incumbent U.S. senator and a former Florida attorney general. A fifth-generation Floridian raised in Plant City, Moody previously worked as a federal prosecutor and served as a Hillsborough County circuit judge. She was elected Florida attorney general in 2018 and reelected in 2022. DeSantis appointed her to the U.S. Senate following Rubio’s resignation, and she was sworn into office in January 2025.
Moody is campaigning as a supporter of Trump’s agenda, with a focus on law enforcement, border security, national security and reducing federal spending. She has also emphasized combating fentanyl trafficking, supporting conservative judicial appointments, protecting religious freedom and limiting federal regulations.
Campaign website: AshleyMoody.com
Neelam Taneja Perry
Neelam Taneja Perry is a physician and former congressional candidate from St. Petersburg. Perry previously ran as a Republican for Florida’s 14th Congressional District. Her campaign describes her as a political outsider seeking to challenge corruption and return federal power to voters.
Perry’s platform focuses on government accountability, congressional term limits, border security and reducing federal spending. She also supports expanding domestic energy production, protecting gun ownership rights, strengthening parental involvement in education and opposing government mandates related to health care.
Campaign website: PerryForFL.com
Ernest “Ernie” Rivera
Ernest “Ernie” Rivera is a pastor, community leader and Republican candidate from the Tampa area. Rivera, who uses the title Rev. Dr., previously sought elected office and has centered his campaign on conservative religious values, constitutional rights and economic concerns affecting Florida families.
Rivera’s campaign priorities include lowering housing and insurance costs, securing the southern border, combating fentanyl trafficking and reducing government corruption. He also supports gun ownership rights, religious freedom, increased support for veterans and law enforcement, and policies intended to reduce the overall cost of living.
Campaign website: Ernie4Senate.com
No Party Affiliation Candidate
Neil J. Gillespie
Neil J. Gillespie is an Ocala resident, blogger and self-described public interest advocate running without a political party. According to the Florida Division of Elections, Gillespie qualified for the general election by paying the required qualifying fee.
Because Gillespie is running with no party affiliation, his name will not appear on the Aug. 18 primary ballot. He will advance directly to the Nov. 3 general election. Gillespie has said he plans to formally launch his general election campaign after the primary. As of publication, he has released limited information about a detailed policy platform.
Voter Information Box
Election Day: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026
Poll Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where to Vote: Florida voters must vote at their assigned precinct on Election Day. Voters can confirm their polling location through their county supervisor of elections.
Registration Deadline: The deadline to register or change party affiliation was July 20. Florida is a closed-primary state, meaning voters may generally participate only in the primary of the political party with which they are registered.
Early Voting: All 67 Florida counties will offer early voting from Aug. 8 through Aug. 15. Some counties may offer additional dates beginning as early as Aug. 3 or continuing through Aug. 16. Hours and locations vary by county.
Vote by Mail: Requests for ballots to be mailed must be received by 5 p.m. Aug. 6. Completed ballots must reach the appropriate county supervisor of elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarks do not count.
General Election: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
Visit Florida’s Division of Elections or your county supervisor of elections website for sample ballots, early voting locations and additional information.
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Candidate status was verified through the Florida Division of Elections.
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