Florida's eighteenth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Janet Cruz.

Florida state senators represent an average of 470,033 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 399,559 residents.

About the office

Members of the Florida State Senate serve four-year terms with term limits. However, in the election following reapportionment, some senators are elected to two-year terms, in order to maintain staggered terms among the senators. Florida legislators assume office two weeks following their election.

Qualifications

To run for the Florida State Senate, candidates must be 21 years old, have lived in Florida for two years and live in the district they intend to serve.

Salaries

Term limits

The Florida legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Florida Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Florida senators are subject to term limits of no more than two four-year terms.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the senate, a special election must be called to fill the vacant seat. The Governor is responsible for calling the election and must consult with the Secretary of State to set the election dates and nominating deadlines. The person elected to fill the seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Florida State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 18, 2020. The filing deadline is June 12, 2020.

2018

2016

Elections for the Florida State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 30, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 24, 2016.

Dana Young defeated Bob Buesing, Joe Redner and Sheldon Upthegrove in the Florida State Senate District 18 general election.

Florida State Senate, District 18 General Election, 2016

Bob Buesing ran unopposed in the Florida State Senate District 18 Democratic primary. Dana Young ran unopposed in the Florida State Senate District 18 Republican primary. Joe Redner and Sheldon Upthegrove listed no party affiliation on the candidate list.

2014

Elections for the Florida State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 26, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 20, 2014. Incumbent Wilton Simpson was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

2012

Elections for the Florida State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 8, 2012. Wilton Simpson (R) was unopposed in both the general election and Republican primary.

Campaign contributions

From 2012 to 2016, candidates for Florida State Senate District 18 raised a total of $3,209,878. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $458,554 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Florida State Senate District 18