This Tuesday, Florida conducts its primaries to determine the candidates who will compete in the special U.S. Senate election to fill the seat vacated by Marco Rubio until January 2025. Rubio stepped down to assume the role of Secretary of State in the Trump administration.
Having been reelected in 2022 for his term from 2023 to 2029, Rubio's departure creates a vacancy that Florida law mandates be filled through an election, although the governor can appoint an interim replacement.
On January 16, 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody would temporarily fill Rubio's Senate seat.
The general election is scheduled for November 3, with the victor serving the remainder of the term through January 2029.
Republican Primary Candidates
Moody is the leading candidate among Republicans, having garnered Trump's endorsement and raised over $14 million in total campaign funds.
Her three opponents offer diverse backgrounds. Chris Gleason, an Army veteran and data forensic analyst, positions himself as an independent voice: "I've consistently stood for doing the right thing and fighting corruption and fraud, regardless of party affiliation," he stated.
Meanwhile, Dr. Neelam Taneja Perry is embroiled in a legal battle, accused by the state of prescribing medication to patients she allegedly never treated. She claims her candidacy is spurred by challenges she faced accessing healthcare for a personal condition. "I'm fighting for people's rights, not only in health but across all levels of corruption," she declared.
The last contender, Pastor Ernest Rivera, is focused on improving housing affordability in South Florida. "Our campaign is rooted in faith, family, and 'Florida first,'" he emphasized, noting his collaboration with the first Trump administration.
Democratic Primary Candidates
On the Democratic side, state representative Angie Nixon and retired Lieutenant Colonel Alex Vindman, renowned for his testimony during Trump's 2019 impeachment trial, are competing.
Nixon, representing Jacksonville since 2020, has prioritized addressing living costs, proposing measures for affordable housing and expanding social programs.
Vindman, formerly the National Security Council's Director for European Affairs, is leading in fundraising, having amassed $16.27 million according to the Federal Election Commission, with $8.5 million raised just in the year's second quarter.
Cuba's Role in Campaigns
With over 1.6 million Cuban-Americans in Florida, predominantly in Miami-Dade and Broward, each candidate's stance on Havana's regime plays a significant role.
Republican candidate Moody adopts a stringent approach. She criticized past administrations for "appeasing the Cuban communist regime," referencing Obama's visit to a baseball game in Cuba and the 2014 release of spy Gerardo Hernández. Moody co-sponsored the DEMOCRACIA Act with Senator Rick Scott in November 2025, aimed at freezing assets and denying entry to Cuban officials.
On the Democratic side, Vindman called for genuine change in March, dismissing superficial solutions for Cuba: "We have the chance to achieve something real for the Cuban-American community, not just a superficial makeover of the Castro regime. I will always support the Cuban people in their fight for true change and real freedom."
Nixon, however, diverged from the Republican consensus. She told Diario Las Américas, "The regime does need change," but opposes sanctions that exacerbate the public's hardships, advocating for policies akin to former President Barack Obama. During a Saturday visit to Calle Ocho in Little Havana, she sought Cuban votes, labeling the embargo a "failure" and arguing that Cubans "are starving." She supported resuming Obama's approach to foster connections between Cuban families, advocating for a regime change that empowers the people and denouncing communism and any form of authoritarianism.
Key Questions About the Florida Senate Race
Why did Marco Rubio vacate his Senate seat?
Marco Rubio vacated his Senate seat to take on the role of Secretary of State in the Trump administration.
Who is the interim replacement for Marco Rubio in the Senate?
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis as the interim replacement for Rubio in the U.S. Senate.
When is the general election for the Florida Senate seat?
The general election for the Florida Senate seat is scheduled for November 3.
What is Ashley Moody's stance on the Cuban regime?
Ashley Moody maintains a hardline stance on the Cuban regime, criticizing previous administrations for appeasement and supporting legislation to block assets and deny entry to Cuban officials.