Florida voters cast ballots Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in a special primary election to select the nominee for a U.S. Senate seat [1].
The outcome of this primary determines who will compete to fill the remainder of the term previously held by Marco Rubio. Because the seat is a critical piece of the federal legislative balance, the result signals the current direction of the state's electorate.
The special election was triggered when Marco Rubio vacated his seat to serve as Secretary of State under President Donald Trump [2]. This vacancy left the final two years of the term open for election [3].
Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) is running in the Republican primary to secure the seat. Moody was previously appointed to the position in 2025 [4]. Her campaign seeks to transition from an appointed incumbent to an elected representative as the state decides its nominee.
Polling locations across the state of Florida remained open throughout the day to accommodate voters [5]. The process is designed to ensure the seat is filled for the remainder of the term, maintaining Florida's full representation in the U.S. Senate.
While the primary focuses on the Republican side, the vacancy has drawn national attention due to the high-profile nature of the appointment that created the opening [2]. The winner of this primary will move forward to the general election to determine who serves the remaining period of the term [3].
“Florida voters cast ballots Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in a special primary election.”
This special election is a direct consequence of executive appointments shifting legislative seats. By filling the remainder of Rubio's term, Florida ensures it does not lose a vote in the U.S. Senate. The primary serves as a litmus test for Senator Ashley Moody's popularity with the Republican base after her 2025 appointment.
