Brevard County voters will be casting ballots in two special elections this spring to fill upcoming vacancies in the Florida Legislature.
Registered Republicans will be voting in primaries on April 1 in Florida Senate District 19 and Florida House District 32. Florida is a “closed primary” state, so only registered Republicans can vote in these primaries.
The winners of the primaries will face Democratic candidates in a June 10 special general election that is open to all voters.
Here are details about those two races:
FLORIDA SENATE DISTRICT 19
This election is for the seat now held by Republican Randy Fine. He was elected to the seat in November, but is resigning, effective March 31, as he seeks to fill a vacant seat in Congress, in Florida’s 6th Congressional District, a six-county area that includes Daytona Beach. That election is April 1.
Florida Senate District 19 includes Central and South Brevard County.
The Republican candidates in the April 1 primary are Marcie Adkins, Mark Lightner III, Debbie Mayfield and Tim Thomas. The primary winner will face Democrat Vance Ahrens in the June 10 general election.
The election winner will serve the remainder of Fine’s four-year term, which runs until November 2028. Florida Senate members have a salary of $29,697 a year.
Fine leaving creates opening: Fine to run for Congress in Daytona Beach area; Mayfield seeks return to Florida Senate
Special election scheduled: DeSantis schedules special election for Randy Fine’s soon-to-be-vacant Florida Senate seat
Mayfield finds way to return: Loophole in Florida term limit rules will allow Mayfield to seek Senate seat she just left
Rejected for ballot: Mayfield fails to qualify for special Senate election, claims retaliation by DeSantis
Condensed election schedule: Legal challenges to disqualifications could impact tight Florida Senate primary timeline
Mayfield defends candidacy: Mayfield: Not being on Senate election ballot would ‘shake confidence of Florida voters’
Supreme Court ruling: Mayfield put on Senate ballot in unanimous Florida Supreme Court ruling
Candidates on the issues: Four candidates to compete in Republican primary for soon-to-be-vacant Florida Senate seat
Candidate forum video: GOP candidates for State Senate District 19 sound off about term limits
What candidates are spending: Three candidates for open Florida House seat spend more than $600K ahead of GOP primary
FLORIDA HOUSE DISTRICT 32
This is the election for the seat now held by Republican Debbie Mayfield. She was elected to the seat in November, but is resigning, effective June 9, as she seeks to fill the soon-to-be-vacant Florida Senate Distrct 19 seat. Mayfield held that seat until November 2024, when she could not seek reelection because of term limits.
House District 32 includes parts of Central Brevard County.
The Republican candidates in the April 1 primary Terry Cronin, Brian Hodgers and Bob White. The primary winner will face Democrat Juan Hinojosa in the June 10 general election.
The election winner will serve the remainder of Mayfield’s two-year term, which runs until November 2026. Florida House members have a salary of $29,697 a year.
White will seek seat: Conservative Republican White to run for Florida House seat being vacated by Mayfield
Hodgers enters race: Hodgers is second Republican to announce candidacy for soon-to-be-vacant Florida House seat
Cronin becomes candidate: Dermatologist Cronin is fourth candidate to seek Florida House seat Mayfield plans to leave
Financial commitments: Three of four candidates invest six-figure amounts into upcoming Florida House race
Timeline for election: Special election scheduled by DeSantis for upcoming Florida House vacancy in Brevard
Who qualified for ballot: Three Republicans and one Democrat qualify for Florida House District 32 special election
Candidates discuss the issues: Three face off in Florida House District 32 primary, with health care, insurance key issues
Mailer questioned: Political mailer incorrectly implies Trump endorsement in Florida House race.
Campaign ad controversy: Florida House District 32 ads keep hinting at Trump endorsement
Candidate forum video: GOP candidates for State House District 32 face off in virtual forum
What candidates are spending: Three candidates for open Florida House seat spend more than $600K ahead of GOP primary
MORE INFORMATION FOR VOTERS
Details for primary voters: Deadlines approaching for voters in special elections for Florida Senate, House seats
Details on early voting, with 9 sites: Early in-person voting begins Saturday for special GOP primaries for Senate, House seats
Controversies over mailers: Campaign mailers inundate Republican voters as special GOP Senate, House primaries approach
What to know about Election Day: Brevard Republican voters go to polls in special elections to fill Senate, House seats
Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Here’s your ultimate voter guide to 2025 special elections, candidates, issues in Brevard
Reporting by Dave Berman, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
