Florida's 21st Congressional District
Florida's 21st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Brian Mast (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Florida representatives represented an average of 770,376 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 700,029 residents.
Elections
2024
See also: Florida's 21st Congressional District election, 2024
Florida's 21st Congressional District election, 2024 (August 20 Republican primary)
Florida's 21st Congressional District election, 2024 (August 20 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Florida District 21
Incumbent Brian Mast defeated Thomas Witkop and Elizabeth Felton in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 21 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brian Mast (R) | 61.8 | 277,435 | |
| Thomas Witkop (D) | 38.2 | 171,312 | ||
| Elizabeth Felton (No Party Affiliation) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 19 | ||
| Total votes: 448,766 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Thomas Witkop advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 21.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 21
Incumbent Brian Mast defeated Rick Wiles in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 21 on August 20, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brian Mast | 85.8 | 60,395 | |
| Rick Wiles | 14.2 | 9,957 | ||
| Total votes: 70,352 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ljubo Skrbic (R)
2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Florida District 21
Incumbent Brian Mast defeated Corinna Robinson in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 21 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brian Mast (R) | 63.5 | 208,614 | |
| Corinna Robinson (D) | 36.5 | 119,891 | ||
| Total votes: 328,505 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Stephen Canton (Independent)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Corinna Robinson advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 21.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 21
Incumbent Brian Mast defeated Jeffrey Buongiorno, Melissa Martz, and Ljubo Skrbic in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 21 on August 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brian Mast | 78.1 | 56,535 | |
| Jeffrey Buongiorno | 12.2 | 8,850 | ||
| Melissa Martz | 8.5 | 6,186 | ||
| Ljubo Skrbic | 1.2 | 853 | ||
| Total votes: 72,424 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- William Wheelen (R)
- Laura Loomer (R)
- Keith Feit (R)
- Martin Marks (R)
2020
General election
General election for U.S. House Florida District 21
Incumbent Lois Frankel defeated Laura Loomer, Charleston Malkemus, Sylvia Caravetta, and Piotr Blass in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 21 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lois Frankel (D) | 59.0 | 237,925 | |
| Laura Loomer (R) | 39.1 | 157,612 | ||
| Charleston Malkemus (No Party Affiliation) | 1.9 | 7,544 | ||
| Sylvia Caravetta (No Party Affiliation) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 8 | ||
| Piotr Blass (R) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 4 | ||
| Total votes: 403,093 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Stephen Canton (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 21
Incumbent Lois Frankel defeated Guido Weiss in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 21 on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lois Frankel | 86.0 | 75,504 | |
| Guido Weiss | 14.0 | 12,308 | ||
| Total votes: 87,812 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Adam Aarons (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 21
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 21 on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Laura Loomer | 42.5 | 14,526 | |
| Christian Acosta | 25.5 | 8,724 | ||
| Michael Vilardi | 12.3 | 4,194 | ||
| Aaron Scanlan | 9.4 | 3,221 | ||
| Elizabeth Felton | 7.1 | 2,421 | ||
| Reba Sherrill | 3.1 | 1,070 | ||
| Total votes: 34,156 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Florida District 21
Incumbent Lois Frankel won election in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 21 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Lois Frankel (D) | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 21
Incumbent Lois Frankel advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 21 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Lois Frankel | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
No Republican candidates ran in the primary.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kurt Jetta (R)
2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. District 22 incumbent Lois Frankel (D) defeated Paul Spain (R) and Michael Trout (I) in the general election on November 8, 2016. No candidate faced a primary opponent in August.[1][2]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Lois Frankel Incumbent |
62.7% | 210,606 | |
| Republican | Paul Spain | 35.1% | 118,038 | |
| Independent | Michael Trout | 2.1% | 7,217 | |
| Total Votes | 335,861 | |||
| Source: Florida Division of Elections | ||||
2014
The 21st Congressional District of Florida held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Ted Deutch (D) ran unopposed in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ted Deutch Incumbent |
99.6% | 153,395 | |
| Write-in | W. Michael Trout | 0.4% | 575 | |
| Total Votes | 153,970 | |||
| Source: Florida Division of Elections | ||||
2012
The 21st District of Florida held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent from the 19th District, Theodore E. Deutch won election in the district.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Theodore E. Deutch Incumbent |
77.8% | 221,263 | |
| Independent | Cesear Henao | 8.9% | 25,361 | |
| Independent | W. Michael Trout | 13.3% | 37,776 | |
| Total Votes | 284,400 | |||
| Source: Florida Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
2010
In 2010, Mario Diaz-Balart decided to run for the 21st District his brother, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, was vacating. He ran unopposed.[4]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Lincoln Diaz-Balart won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Raul L. Martinez (D) in the general election.[5]
| U.S. House, Florida District 21 General Election, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Lincoln Diaz-Balart incumbent |
57.9% | 137,226 | |
| Democratic | Raul L. Martinez | 42.1% | 99,776 | |
| Total Votes | 237,002 | |||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Lincoln Diaz-Balart won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Frank J. Gonzalez (D) in the general election.[6]
| U.S. House, Florida District 21 General Election, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Lincoln Diaz-Balart incumbent |
59.5% | 66,784 | |
| Democratic | Frank J. Gonzalez | 40.5% | 45,522 | |
| Total Votes | 112,306 | |||
2004
On November 2, 2004, Lincoln Diaz-Balart won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Frank J. Gonzalez (D) in the general election.[7]
| U.S. House, Florida District 21 General Election, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Lincoln Diaz-Balart incumbent |
72.8% | 146,507 | |
| Democratic | Frank J. Gonzalez | 27.2% | 54,736 | |
| Total Votes | 201,243 | |||
2002
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R) ran unopposed for re-election in 2002.
2000
On November 7, 2000, Lincoln Diaz-Balart won re-election to the United States House. He ran unopposed in the general election.[8]
| U.S. House, Florida District 21 General Election, 2000 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Lincoln Diaz-Balart incumbent |
100% | 132,317 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0% | 25 | |
| Total Votes | 132,342 | |||
District map
Redistricting
2020-2024
On March 27, 2024, the U.S. District Court for Northern Florida upheld the state's congressional map after it was struck down by a lower court on Sep. 2, 2023. As a result, this map was used for Florida's 2024 congressional elections. According to the U.S. District Court for Northern Florida's order:
| “ | This case involves constitutional challenges to the congressional districting map proposed by Governor Ron DeSantis and enacted by the Florida Legislature in 2022 ... Plaintiffs had to prove both discriminatory effects and a discriminatory purpose. They proved neither. Thus, [we] concur in the decision to grant judgment in the Secretary’s favor.[9][10] | ” |
On December 1, 2023, the Florida First District Court of Appeal ruled 8-2 that the redistricting plan did not unconstitutionally limit Black voting power.[11] The plaintiffs appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, which heard arguments on September 12, 2024.[12]
On September 2, 2023, Leon County Circuit Court Judge J. Lee Marsh struck down enacted North Florida congressional districts and ordered the Legislature to redraw district boundaries.[13] On June 2, 2022, the Florida Supreme Court had declined to block Florida's enacted congressional map, which Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law on April 22.[14]
The Florida First District Court of Appeal had reinstated the congressional district boundaries on May 20, overruling Leon County Circuit Court Judge Layne Smith's temporary hold on the map.[15][16] On May 11, Smith issued an order declaring Florida's enacted congressional map unconstitutional, saying, "The enacted map is unconstitutional under the Fair District amendment. It diminishes African-Americans’ ability to elect the representative of their choice." Smith also said a map drawn by a court-appointed special master should be substituted for the enacted map in the 2022 elections.[17] The plaintiffs in the case filed an emergency appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on May 23, 2022, seeking a hold on the enacted congressional map.[18]
DeSantis signed the original congressional map into law on April 22, 2022.[19] The map bill was proposed and approved by the Florida State Legislature during a special session called for the purposes of redistricting. The Florida State Senate voted 24-15 to approve the map on April 20, and the Florida House of Representatives voted 68-34 to approve the map on April 21.[20][21]
This was the second congressional map bill approved by the state legislature. DeSantis vetoed the first on March 29. Republican leaders in the legislature said on April 11 that they would wait to receive a map from DeSantis to support.[22] DeSantis submitted a map to the legislature on April 13, which became the enacted map.[23]
How does redistricting in Florida work? In Florida, both congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. Congressional lines are adopted as regular legislation and are subject to gubernatorial veto. State legislative lines are passed via joint resolution and are not subject to gubernatorial veto. State legislative district maps are automatically submitted to the Florida Supreme Court for approval. In the event that the court rejects the lines, the legislature is given a second chance to draft a plan. If the legislature cannot approve a state legislative redistricting plan, the state attorney general must ask the state supreme court to draft a plan. There are no similar procedures in place for congressional districts.[24]
The Florida Constitution requires that all districts, whether congressional or state legislative, be contiguous. Also, "where doing so does not conflict with minority rights, [districts] must be compact and utilize existing political and geographical boundaries where feasible." Districts cannot be drawn in such a way as to "favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent."[24][25]
Florida District 21
until January 2, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Florida District 21
starting January 3, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
2015
On July 9, 2015, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the state's congressional district map was unconstitutional. The suit was brought to the court by the League of Women Voters and a coalition of other voter groups. David King, lead attorney for the League of Women Voters, said of the ruling, "This is a complete victory for the people of Florida who passed the Fair District amendment and sought fair representation where the Legislature didn't pick their voters. The Supreme Court accepted every challenge we made and ordered the Legislature to do it over."[26]
As a result of the ruling, eight congressional districts were ordered to be redrawn: FL-05, FL-13, FL-14, FL-21, FL-22, FL-25, FL-26 and FL-27. However, the redrawing of these districts had an effect on most of the state's other congressional districts as well. The court gave the legislature until August 25, 2015, to complete the redrawn map.[26]
The House and Senate could not reach an agreement on a new map in late August. Each chamber presented its own map, but they did not agree on which map to use. As a result, Judge Terry Lewis scheduled a trial in order to pick a map. The trial began on September 24, 2015, and lasted for three days. Following the trial, Judge Lewis recommended a map to the Florida Supreme Court, which had the ultimate decision as to which map to use.[27][28][29]
On December 2, 2015, the Florida Supreme Court upheld the map that was recommended by the voters' coalition.
In total, 24 of Florida's 27 congressional districts saw some change with the new map. The most drastic changes were made to the 5th and 10th Congressional Districts. The new 5th and 10th are each composed of less than 40 percent of their old seats. The redrawn map is displayed below.
2010-2011
In 2011, the Florida State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census. Prior to redistricting, the 21st District was located in Miami-Dade County. The district included many of the western suburbs of Miami such as Hialeah, Olympia Heights, and Cutler.
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
2024
Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+7. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 7 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Florida's 21st the 179th most Republican district nationally.[30]
Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 54.4%-45.0%.[31]
2022
Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+7. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 7 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Florida's 21st the 177th most Republican district nationally.[32]
Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 45.0% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 54.4%.[33]
2018
Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+9. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 9 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Florida's 21st Congressional District the 129th most Democratic nationally.[34]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.06. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.06 points toward that party.[35]
See also
- Redistricting in Florida
- Florida's 21st Congressional District election, 2024
- Florida's 21st Congressional District election, 2022
- Florida's 21st Congressional District election, 2020
- Florida's 21st Congressional District election, 2018
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidate Listing for 2016 General Election," accessed June 25, 2016
- ↑ Politico, " Florida House Races Results," August 30, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Florida," November 6, 2012
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections--Department of State, "Candidate Listing for 2010 General Election," accessed October 20, 2011
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, "Common Cause Florida v. Byrd," March 27, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ CBS News, "Florida appeals court upholds congressional redistricting plan backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis," December 1, 2023
- ↑ Politico, "Florida’s high court poised to protect DeSantis’ congressional map that helps GOP," September 12, 2024
- ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Judge rules against DeSantis in challenge to congressional map," September 2, 2023
- ↑ Florida Politics, "Florida Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to congressional map ahead of Midterms," June 2, 2022
- ↑ Orlando Sentinel, "Florida appeals court reinstates DeSantis’ congressional map," May 20, 2022
- ↑ Florida District Court of Appeal, First District, "Secretary of State Laurel Lee v. Black Voters Matter, et al.," May 20, 2022
- ↑ NBC News, "Florida judge says he’ll block DeSantis' congressional redistricting map," May 11, 2022
- ↑ Florida Supreme Court, "Black Voters Matter, et al. v. Cord Byrd, Florida Secretary of State," May 23, 2022
- ↑ Florida Politics, "Gov. DeSantis signs his congressional map into law," April 22, 2022
- ↑ Florida Politics, "Florida Senate passes Gov. DeSantis’ congressional map," April 20, 2022
- ↑ Florida Politics, "Legislature approves Gov. DeSantis’ controversial congressional redistricting map," April 21, 2022
- ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Florida Legislature won’t draft new redistricting map, deferring to DeSantis," April 11, 2022
- ↑ Florida Politics, "Gov. DeSantis submits congressional redistristing plan critics contend is ‘partisan gerrymandering’," April 14, 2022
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 All About Redistricting, "Florida," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ Florida Constitution, "Article III, Sections 20-21," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Tampa Bay Times, "Florida Supreme Court orders new congressional map with eight districts to be redrawn," July 9, 2015
- ↑ Sun Sentinel, "Redistricting session collapses amid acrimony," August 21, 2015
- ↑ Bradenton Herald, "Trial will be held on new Florida congressional districts," September 12, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Final day of map trial highlights Miami-Dade race politics," September 29, 2015
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed January 10, 2024
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed February 6, 2023
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018