State Watch

Florida Democrats score upset in Tampa-based state Senate race

by Caroline Vakil - 03/24/26 8:33 PM ET

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Florida Democrats scored an upset in the race to fill a Tampa-based state Senate seat, adding to the party’s growing number of overperformances and flipped seats in recent months, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Democrat Brian Nathan, a Navy veteran and union leader, defeated Republican state Rep. Josie Tomkow to helm Florida Senate District 14, which includes part of Hillsborough County.

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (R), now a candidate for governor, held the seat before he was tapped by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to serve as his second in command.

In 2022, Collins defeated Democrat Janet Cruz by 9 percentage points, while the entire county narrowly went for President Trump in 2024 by 3 points.

The surprising victory comes as the Sunshine State held a handful of other special elections for the state Legislature on Tuesday. Democrats were primarily focused on winning Florida House District 87, where Trump votes and his Mar-a-Lago resort is located.

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