The midterm elections held on Tuesday, November 3, in the United States have begun to shape the country's political landscape with Carlos Giménez and Ashley Moody among those projected to win in Florida. Meanwhile, Byron Donalds is also anticipated to claim victory in the state's gubernatorial race.
Republican María Elvira Salazar held a slight lead over Democrat Eliott Rodríguez in Miami's 27th district, with a razor-thin margin of just 770 votes. Similarly, Mario Díaz-Balart was ahead in the 26th district.
Despite over 95% of the estimated votes being counted in each district, neither contest had an official winner according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).
Carlos Giménez Retains Congressional Seat
Cuban-born Republican Congressman Carlos A. Giménez has been declared the winner in Florida's 28th district by Decision Desk HQ, with the projection announced at 7:37 p.m. Eastern Time.
As of the 8:48 p.m. update, Giménez had garnered 123,449 votes (52.86%), surpassing Democrat Phil "Felipe" Ehr, who had 106,714 votes (45.69%). Independent candidate Eddy Rojas, also of Cuban descent, recorded 3,386 votes (1.45%), with more than 95% of the estimated votes reported.
Born in Havana and a former Miami-Dade mayor, Giménez will continue representing South Florida in Congress, where he has consistently criticized the Cuban regime.
Ashley Moody Fills Marco Rubio's Senate Seat
Republican Senator Ashley Moody has been declared the winner by DDHQ, which projected her victory at 8:00 p.m. against Democrat Angie Nixon.
As of the 8:36 p.m. update, Moody had accumulated 4,026,831 votes (50.67%), compared to Nixon's 3,830,376 (48.20%), with around 94% of the estimated votes reported.
Moody was appointed senator in January 2025, after Marco Rubio vacated his seat to become the U.S. Secretary of State. Her anticipated victory allows Republicans to retain the seat for the remainder of Rubio's term, which ends in January 2029.
Tight Race Between María Elvira Salazar and Eliott Rodríguez
One of the night's closest races is taking place in Florida's 27th district, where María Elvira Salazar seeks reelection against Cuban-American Democrat Eliott Rodríguez.
According to DDHQ, at 8:48 p.m., Salazar had 121,752 votes (50.16%), while Rodríguez had 120,982 (49.84%). The margin was just 770 votes, with more than 95% of the estimated votes reported.
Both candidates, children of Cuban immigrants and with extensive careers in television journalism, have sparked significant interest in Miami. Despite Salazar's lead, no official winner had been declared at the last update.
Mario Díaz-Balart in a Competitive Contest
Cuban-American Republican Mario Díaz-Balart continued to lead in the 26th district against Democrat Nicole Locklin, though no official victory was declared.
According to DDHQ, Díaz-Balart had 111,927 votes (49.95%), while Locklin had 109,872 (49.03%). The difference was 2,055 votes, with more than 95% of the estimated votes reported as of the 8:31 p.m. update. Independent candidate Deborah Meidinger Hosey received 2,270 votes (1.01%).
Florida Governor's Race: Jolly vs. Donalds
Republican Byron Donalds, supported by President Donald Trump, has been projected to win the Florida gubernatorial race by Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) against Democrat David Jolly.
Donalds will succeed Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who was ineligible for a third consecutive term. The race was marked by a narrow vote count early in the evening, with both candidates showing minimal differences in the tally.
DDHQ's projection anticipates the Republican Party's continued leadership of the state government, though official certification of the results is pending.
Additional Projected Wins in Florida
Several Democratic candidates also achieved projected victories in their respective districts.
Jared Moskowitz was declared the winner of his reelection in the 25th district against Republican Scott Singer, despite the constituency being altered by the new electoral map. Pia Dandiya also emerged as a projected winner, defeating Republican Casey Askar in the 22nd district, according to DDHQ. In the latest update, Dandiya had 148,204 votes (51.98%) compared to 136,895 (48.02%).
In other districts, Lois Frankel (23), Oliver Gilbert III (24), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (20) also secured projected victories.
These results hold particular significance amid Florida's redistricting, which modified several constituencies prior to the elections.
Outcomes Beyond Florida
Outside of Florida, Democrat Jon Ossoff secured reelection to the Senate from Georgia, defeating Republican Mike Collins, who had President Trump's backing, as reported by the Associated Press.
Another significant win came from Democrat Chris Pappas in New Hampshire, where he overcame Republican John E. Sununu for the Senate seat vacated by Jeanne Shaheen.
Democrat Mark Warner also won reelection to the Senate from Virginia.
In gubernatorial races, Democrats Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania, J.B. Pritzker in Illinois, Wes Moore in Maryland, and Maura Healey in Massachusetts, were all projected to win.
The midterm elections will determine the makeup of Congress for the final two years of Donald Trump's second term. The control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate remains a key issue, with several contests still undecided.
Key Questions About Florida's Election Results
Who are the key winners in Florida's midterm elections?
Carlos Giménez and Ashley Moody are among the projected winners in Florida's midterm elections. Byron Donalds is also anticipated to win the gubernatorial race.
What is the significance of Ashley Moody's projected win?
Ashley Moody's projected victory allows Republicans to retain Marco Rubio's Senate seat, continuing the party's influence in the Senate for the remainder of Rubio's term until January 2029.
What challenges do María Elvira Salazar and Eliott Rodríguez face in their race?
The race between María Elvira Salazar and Eliott Rodríguez is extremely close, and despite Salazar's slight lead, no official winner has been declared due to the narrow margin.
How does Florida's redistricting impact election outcomes?
Florida's redistricting has changed the boundaries of several districts, influencing the dynamics and outcomes of elections in the state, as seen in the altered race conditions for candidates.