2026 Legislative Session Gearing Up
The 2025 Session may be officially in the books, but preparations are already underway for the 2026 Session. Committee meetings begin the week of October 6 and will continue through December 8. The Session itself is scheduled to start in January and run through early March, giving lawmakers time to return home and hit the campaign trail.
2026 Committee Week Schedule:
- October 6–10
- October 13–17
- November 3–7
- November 17–21
- December 1–5
- December 8–12
Special Elections & New Faces in Tallahassee
Recent months have brought several changes to the Legislature.
Governor DeSantis appointed Senator Blaise Ingoglia as Chief Financial Officer following Jimmy Patronis’s successful run for Congress. A special election for Ingoglia’s Senate District 11 seat will take place:
- Primary: September 30
- General: December 9
Former Rep. Ralph Massullo is considered the frontrunner, with strong support from the Senate Republican campaign arm and endorsements from key GOP leaders statewide.
Sadly, Rep. Joe Casello, who represented parts of Palm Beach County, passed away this summer. A U.S. Air Force veteran, firefighter, and dedicated public servant, he was respected across party lines. A special election to fill his seat will follow the same timeline:
- Primary: September 30
- General: December 9
Three additional special elections held in June welcomed new members to Tallahassee:
- House District 3 (Okaloosa & Santa Rosa): Rep. Nathan Boyles
- House District 32 (Brevard): Rep. Brian Hodgers
- Senate District 19 (Brevard): Sen. Debbie Mayfield (re-elected)
Two more general elections are set for September 2 in Orange County:
- Senate District 15: Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis (D) vs. Willie J. Montague (R)
- House District 40: RaShon Young (D) vs. Tuan Le (R)
2026 Political Picture Taking Shape
Democrats held their Leadership Blue conference in June, featuring Sen. Cory Booker and Gov. Andy Beshear. The party has announced candidates for key statewide offices:
- Governor: David Jolly
- Attorney General: Jose Javier Rodriguez
- U.S. Senate: Josh Weil (challenger to Sen. Ashley Moody)
Democrats have yet to announce candidates for Commissioner of Agriculture or Chief Financial Officer.
Republicans will hold their annual Florida Freedom Forum on Saturday, August 2 in Orlando. Featured speakers include:
- Governor Ron DeSantis
- U.S. Senators Rick Scott & Ashley Moody
- Rep. Byron Donalds (considered a 2026 gubernatorial contender)
- AG James Uthmeier
- Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who is expected to run for re-election
President Trump recently issued endorsements for Sen. Ashley Moody for U.S. Senate and Sen. Joe Gruters to serve as the next Chairman of the Republican National Committee, as current RNC Chair Michael Whatley is expected to pursue a U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina.
Stay Connected
If you have any questions about the upcoming elections or the 2026 Legislative Session, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to help and keep you informed. We look forward to continuing to work together to support and strengthen Florida’s RV industry.