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Florida state executive official elections, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9
- Early voting: Oct. 27 - Nov. 3[2]
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
2022 →
← 2014
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| Florida state executive official elections |
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| Election details |
| Filing deadline: June 22, 2018 |
| Primary: August 28, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Florida |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2018 Impact of term limits in 2018 State government trifectas and triplexes |
| Other state executive elections |
The following state executive offices were up for election in Florida in 2018. Click on the following links to learn more about each race:
Governor
Lieutenant governor
Attorney general
Chief Financial Officer
Agriculture commissioner
Candidates and election results
Governor
General election
General election for Governor of Florida
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Florida on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ron DeSantis (R) | 49.6 | 4,076,186 | |
| Andrew Gillum (D) | 49.2 | 4,043,723 | ||
| Darcy Richardson (Reform Party) | 0.6 | 47,140 | ||
| Kyle Gibson (No Party Affiliation) | 0.3 | 24,310 | ||
| Ryan Foley (No Party Affiliation) | 0.2 | 14,630 | ||
| Bruce Stanley (No Party Affiliation) | 0.2 | 14,505 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 66 | ||
| Total votes: 8,220,560 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Raphael Herman (No Party Affiliation)
- Randy Wiseman (L)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Florida
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Florida on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Andrew Gillum | 34.4 | 522,164 | |
| Gwen Graham | 31.3 | 474,875 | ||
| Philip Levine | 20.3 | 308,801 | ||
| Jeff Greene | 10.1 | 152,955 | ||
| Christopher King | 2.5 | 37,616 | ||
| John Wetherbee | 0.9 | 14,426 | ||
| Alex Lundmark | 0.6 | 8,655 | ||
| Total votes: 1,519,492 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Florida
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Florida on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ron DeSantis | 56.5 | 916,298 | |
| Adam Putnam | 36.5 | 592,518 | ||
| Bob White | 2.0 | 32,710 | ||
| Timothy Devine | 1.3 | 21,380 | ||
| Bob Langford | 1.2 | 19,842 | ||
| Bruce Nathan | 0.9 | 14,556 | ||
| Don Baldauf | 0.8 | 13,173 | ||
| John Joseph Mercadante | 0.7 | 11,647 | ||
| Total votes: 1,622,124 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Angel Rivera (R)
Lieutenant governor
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Florida
The following candidates ran in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Florida on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jeanette Nuñez (R) | 49.6 | 4,076,186 | |
| Christopher King (D) | 49.2 | 4,043,723 | ||
| Nancy Argenziano (Reform Party) | 0.6 | 47,140 | ||
| Ellen Wilds (No Party Affiliation) | 0.3 | 24,310 | ||
| John Tutton Jr. (No Party Affiliation) | 0.2 | 14,630 | ||
| Ryan McJury (No Party Affiliation) | 0.2 | 14,505 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 66 | ||
| Total votes: 8,220,560 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Attorney general
General election
General election for Attorney General of Florida
Ashley B. Moody defeated Sean Shaw and Jeffrey Siskind in the general election for Attorney General of Florida on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ashley B. Moody (R) | 52.1 | 4,232,532 | |
| Sean Shaw (D) | 46.1 | 3,744,912 | ||
| Jeffrey Siskind (No Party Affiliation) | 1.8 | 145,296 | ||
| Total votes: 8,122,740 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Florida
Sean Shaw defeated Ryan Torrens in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Florida on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Sean Shaw | 73.8 | 1,031,640 | |
| Ryan Torrens | 26.2 | 367,053 | ||
| Total votes: 1,398,693 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Florida
Ashley B. Moody defeated Frank White in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Florida on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ashley B. Moody | 56.8 | 882,028 | |
| Frank White | 43.2 | 670,823 | ||
| Total votes: 1,552,851 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Chief Financial Officer
General election
General election for Florida Chief Financial Officer
Incumbent Jimmy Patronis defeated Jeremy Ring in the general election for Florida Chief Financial Officer on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jimmy Patronis (R) | 51.7 | 4,152,221 | |
| Jeremy Ring (D) | 48.3 | 3,872,540 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 297 | ||
| Total votes: 8,025,058 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Agriculture commissioner
General election
General election for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Nikki Fried defeated Matt Caldwell in the general election for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nikki Fried (D) | 50.0 | 4,032,954 | |
| Matt Caldwell (R) | 50.0 | 4,026,201 | ||
| Total votes: 8,059,155 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Nikki Fried defeated R. David Walker and Jeffrey Duane Porter in the Democratic primary for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nikki Fried | 58.6 | 826,009 | |
| R. David Walker | 25.5 | 359,081 | ||
| Jeffrey Duane Porter | 15.9 | 223,299 | ||
| Total votes: 1,408,389 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Matt Caldwell defeated Denise Grimsley, Baxter Troutman, and Mike McCalister in the Republican primary for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Matt Caldwell | 34.6 | 523,051 | |
| Denise Grimsley | 26.6 | 402,525 | ||
| Baxter Troutman | 26.0 | 393,098 | ||
| Mike McCalister | 12.8 | 193,002 | ||
| Total votes: 1,511,676 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Context of the 2018 elections
Party control in Florida
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Republicans in Florida gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 1998 elections, when they took control of the governor's office. The trifecta was briefly broken in 2010 when Gov. Charlie Crist left the Republican Party to become an independent. Crist did not run for re-election in the 2010 gubernatorial election and the seat was won by Republican Rick Scott, which restored the Republican trifecta.
Florida Party Control: 1992-2024
One year of a Democratic trifecta • Twenty-six years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | I | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | S | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Florida utilizes a closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is limited to registered party members.[3][4]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Florida, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Florida is divided between the Eastern and Central time zones. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[5]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Florida, one must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a legal resident of Florida and the county in which he or she intends to vote. Pre-registration is available beginning at 16 years of age.[6][7]
Voters may retrieve registration applications at the following locations:[6]
- Local elections offices
- Public assistance agencies
- Disability services agencies
- Independent living centers
- Military recruitment offices
- Public libraries
- Drivers license office
- Tax collector's office
- The office of any entity authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to issue fishing, hunting, or trapping permits
A registration form is also available online. The form can be printed and submitted via mail.[7]
Click here to find your county Supervisor of Elections.
Automatic registration
Florida does not practice automatic voter registration.
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Florida has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Voters may also apply for or modify their voter registration status while renewing their driver's license through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ online renewal system here.
Same-day registration
Florida does not allow same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Florida, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.
Verification of citizenship
Florida does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "it is a 3rd degree felony to submit false information." [8]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[9] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The page Voter Information Lookup, run by the Florida Department of State, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Florida requires voters to present photo identification with a signature while voting.[10][11]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of July 2024. Click here for the Florida Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
- Florida driver’s license
- Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
- United States passport
- Debit or credit card
- Military identification
- Student identification
- Retirement center identification
- Neighborhood association identification
- Public assistance identification
- Veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
- License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06
- Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the federal government, the state, a county, or a municipality
A voter who presents an ID without a signature must show a second form of identification that includes the voter’s signature.
Early voting
Florida permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All voters are eligible to vote by mail in Florida. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting by mail.[12]
To vote by mail, an application must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the 12th day before the election. Election officials must mail the ballot out within 2 business days after a request, but no later than the 10th day before election day.[12]
A returned ballot must then be received by election officials by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.[12]
Impact of term limits
Five state executive seats in Florida were up for election in 2018. In the 2018 elections, three officials were ineligible to run because of term limits. The following state officials were term-limited in 2018:
Republicans (3):
- Governor: Rick Scott
- Attorney General: Pam Bondi
- Agriculture commissioner: Adam Putnam
Of the 283 state executives offices on the ballot in 2018, 131 of them were represented by incumbents who were subject to term limits. Of the 36 gubernatorial seats up for election in 2018, 13 governors—two Democrats and 11 Republicans—were term-limited and therefore unable to run for re-election. Of the 31 states with term limits that held state executives elections in 2018, some incumbents in 18 of the states were term-limited.
A total of 49 state executive officials were ineligible to run in the 2018 elections because of term limits. This represented 17 percent of the 283 total seats up for election in 2018.[13] Republicans had more than six times as many state executive officials term-limited in 2018 than Democrats. A total of seven Democrats were term-limited, while 40 Republicans were term-limited. The other two term-limited officials were nonpartisan.
Past elections
2016
There were no state executive elections in Florida in 2016.
2014
The following elections took place in 2014.
- Florida down ballot state executive elections, 2014
- Florida state executive official elections, 2014
- Florida gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014
- Florida Attorney General election, 2014
2012
There were no state executive elections in Florida in 2012.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Florida state executive election 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
State profile
| Demographic data for Florida | ||
|---|---|---|
| Florida | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 20,244,914 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 53,625 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 76% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 16.1% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 2.6% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.4% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 23.7% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 86.9% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 27.3% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $47,507 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 19.8% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Florida. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Florida
Florida voted Republican in five out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, four are located in Florida, accounting for 1.94 percent of the total pivot counties.[14]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Florida had three Retained Pivot Counties and one Boomerang Pivot County, accounting for 1.66 and 4.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respsectively.
More Florida coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Florida
- United States congressional delegations from Florida
- Public policy in Florida
- Endorsers in Florida
- Florida fact checks
- More...
See also
| Florida | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Counties could add additional early voting days from October 22 through October 26 and/or November 4.
- ↑ Counties could add additional early voting days from October 22 through October 26 and/or November 4.
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Closed Primary Election," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Florida Secretary of State, "FAQ - Voting," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Florida Division of Elections, "National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Register to Vote or Update your Information," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Florida Voter Registration Application Instructions and Form," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Election Day Voting," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Florida History: Voter ID at the Polls," accessed July 22, 2024
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Florida Division of Elections, "Vote-by-Mail," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Some of the 49 state executive officials in 2018 may have resigned before their term ended. These state executive officials were still counted in the total number of term-limited state executives in 2018.
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
