2020 Florida elections
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elections were held in Florida on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Aside from its presidential primaries held on March 17, its primary elections were held on August 18, 2020.[1]
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In addition to the U.S. presidential race, Florida voters elected all of its seats to the U.S. House of Representatives, one seat on the Florida Supreme Court, 25 of 65 seats on the Florida District Courts of Appeal, all of the seats of the Florida House of Representatives, and 21 of 40 seats in the Florida Senate. Six ballot measures were also voted on. Neither of the state's two U.S. Senate seats were up for election in 2020.[1]
To vote by mail, registered Florida voters had to request a ballot by October 24, 2020.[2] As of early October some 5,547,170 voters had requested mail ballots.[3]
Federal offices
President of the United States
Florida has 29 electoral votes in the Electoral College. Donald Trump won all of them with 51% of the popular vote. The following people filed for presidency candidacy:
| Candidate | Party | Incumbent |
|---|---|---|
| Donald J. Trump | Republican Party | √ |
| Joe R. Biden Jr. | Democratic Party | |
| Joanne "Jo" M. Jorgensen | Libertarian Party | |
| Gloria E. La Riva | Party for Socialism and Liberation | |
| Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente | Reform Party | |
| Brian T. Carroll | (unaffiliated / independent) | |
| Shawn W. Howard | (unaffiliated / independent) | |
| Valeria L. McCray | (unaffiliated / independent) | |
| Jade Simmons | (unaffiliated / independent) | |
| Kasey Wells | (unaffiliated / independent) |
United States House of Representatives
There are 26 U.S. Representatives in Florida that were up for election in addition to two seats opened by retirements and one opened after the incumbent, Ross Spano, lost renomination in its Republican primary.[4] 16 Republicans and 11 Democrats were returned. The Republican Party gained two districts, the 26th and the 27th.
| Candidate | Party | District | Incumbent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gus M. Bilirakis | Republican Party | 12 | √ |
| Kimberly Walker | Democratic Party | 12 | |
| Ardian Zika | Republican Party | 37 | √ |
| Tammy Garcia | Democratic Party | 37 |
State offices
State Judiciary
A retention election occurred for one of seven seats on the Supreme Court of Florida. The incumbent, Carlos G. Muñiz, filed for re-election. He won another 6-year term with 66% of the votes.[5]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 6,297,753 | 65.74 | |
| Against | 3,281,468 | 34.26 | |
| Total | 9,579,221 | 100.00 | |
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
State legislature
All 120 seats of the Florida House of Representatives and 21 of 40 seats of the Florida Senate are up for election. The outcome of this election could affect partisan balance during post-census redistricting.[7]
State senate
20 out of 40 seats were up for election in the state Senate with one special election. Before the election the composition of the state Senate was:
| Party | # of seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | 23 | |
| Democratic | 17 | |
| Total | 40 | |
After the election, the composition was:
| Party | # of seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | 24 | |
| Democratic | 16 | |
| Total | 40 | |
House of Representatives
All 120 seats in the state House were up for election. Before the election the composition of the state House was:
| Party | # of seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | 71 | |
| Democratic | 46 | |
| Total | 120[a] | |
After the election, the composition was:
| Party | # of seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | 78 | |
| Democratic | 42 | |
| Total | 120 | |
Ballot measures
To pass, any state constitutional amendment requires 60% of the vote.[8]
Amendment 1
Citizen Requirement for Voting Initiative would enshrine in the state constitution the exclusivity of voting rights for U.S. Citizens.[9]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 8,307,109 | 79.29 | |
| Against | 2,169,684 | 20.71 | |
| Required majority | 60.00 | ||
| Total | 10,476,793 | 100.00 | |
Amendment 2
$15 Minimum Wage Initiative would alter the state's constitution to guarantee a gradual raise of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026.[10]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 6,391,753 | 60.82 | |
| Against | 4,117,815 | 39.18 | |
| Required majority | 60.00 | ||
| Total | 10,509,568 | 100.00 | |
Amendment 3
Top-Two Open Primaries Initiative would implement the contemporary Californian primary system, opening primaries to all votes regardless of party registration, placing candidates of all parties on the same ballot and advancing the first-place and second-place finishers to the general election regardless of party affiliation. In addition, if only two candidates filed for the primary, this system would cancel the primary and automatically send them to the general election.[11]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 5,854,468 | 57.03 | |
| Against | 4,410,768 | 42.97 | |
| Required majority | 60.00 | ||
| Total | 10,265,236 | 100.00 | |
Amendment 4
Require Constitutional Amendments to be Passed Twice would require that any further amendments would need to succeed in two different elections to be ratified.[12]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 4,853,402 | 47.53 | |
| Against | 5,356,792 | 52.47 | |
| Required majority | 60.00 | ||
| Total | 10,210,194 | 100.00 | |
Amendment 5
Extend "Save Our Homes" Portability Period Amendment would increase the period during which a person may transfer "Save Our Homes" benefits to a new homestead property from two years to three years.
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 7,484,104 | 74.49 | |
| Against | 2,562,387 | 25.51 | |
| Required majority | 60.00 | ||
| Total | 10,046,491 | 100.00 | |
Amendment 6
Homestead Property Tax Discount for Spouses of Deceased Veterans Amendment would allow a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran.
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 9,305,503 | 89.73 | |
| Against | 1,065,308 | 10.27 | |
| Required majority | 60.00 | ||
| Total | 10,370,811 | 100.00 | |
Polling
The highlighted result in any poll is whichever is closer to its threshold (40% for 'against' and 60% for 'for' with respect to a given amendment).
Amendment 1
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 1 | Against Florida Amendment 1 | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civiqs/Daily Kos[13] | October 17–20, 2020 | 863 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 53% | 39% | 9% |
| University of North Florida[14] | October 1–4, 2020 | 3,091 (LV) | – | 78%[c] | 18% | 2%[d] |
| St. Leo University Polling Institute[15] | November 13–18, 2019 | 500 (A) | ± 4.5% | 80% | 10% | 9% |
Amendment 2
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 2 | Against Florida Amendment 2 | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Pete Polls[16] | October 29–30, 2020 | 2,758 (LV) | ± 1.9% | 58% | 35% | – | 8% |
| Monmouth University[17] | October 24–28, 2020 | 509 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 63% | 32% | 2%[e] | 4% |
| Florida Atlantic University[18] | October 24–25, 2020 | 937 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 62% | 38% | – | 8% |
| Civiqs/Daily Kos[13] | October 17–20, 2020 | 863 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 57% | 38% | – | 4% |
| Ipsos/Pure Spectrum[19] | October 7–15, 2020 | 1,001 (A) | ± 3.5% | 70% | 21% | – | 9% |
| Emerson College[20] | October 10–12, 2020 | 690 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 52% | 31% | – | 11% |
| University of North Florida[14] | October 1–4, 2020 | 3,055 (LV) | – | 60%[c] | 37% | – | 3%[f] |
| Cherry Communications/Florida Chamber of Commerce[21][A] | September 23–29, 2020 | 604 (LV) | ± 4% | 66% | – | – | – |
| St. Pete Polls[22] | September 21–22, 2020 | 2,906 (LV) | ± 1.8% | 65% | 23% | – | 13% |
| Monmouth University[23] | September 10–13, 2020 | 428 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 67% | 26% | 1%[g] | 6% |
| St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics[24] | May 26–27, 2020 | 4,763 (RV) | ± 1.4% | 64% | 24% | – | 12% |
| St. Leo University Polling Institute[15] | November 13–18, 2019 | 500 (A) | ± 4.5% | 63% | 26% | – | 11% |
| St. Pete Polls[25] | May 6 – June 1, 2019 | 3,790 (RV) | ± 1.6% | 58% | 35% | – | 7% |
Amendment 3
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 3 | Against Florida Amendment 3 | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Pete Polls[16] | October 29–30, 2020 | 2,758 (LV) | ± 1.9% | 48% | 40% | – | 12% |
| Monmouth University[17] | October 24–28, 2020 | 509 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 53% | 30% | 2%[h] | 15% |
| Florida Atlantic University[18] | October 24–25, 2020 | 937 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 58% | 29% | – | 13% |
| St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics[26] | October 21–22, 2020 | 2,527 (LV) | ± 2% | 37% | 44% | – | 19% |
| Civiqs/Daily Kos[13] | October 17–20, 2020 | 863 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 51% | 36% | – | 13% |
| University of North Florida[14] | October 1–4, 2020 | 2,994 (LV) | – | 58%[c] | 36% | – | 6%[i] |
| Cherry Communications/Florida Chamber of Commerce[21][B] | September 23–29, 2020 | 604 (LV) | ± 4% | 61% | – | – | – |
| St. Pete Polls[22] | September 21–22, 2020 | 2,906 (LV) | ± 1.8% | 46% | 35% | – | 19% |
| Monmouth University[23] | September 10–13, 2020 | 428 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 63% | 21% | 1%[j] | 15% |
| St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics[24] | May 26–27, 2020 | 4,763 (RV) | ± 1.4% | 35% | 44% | – | 20% |
| St. Pete Polls[27] | October 7–10, 2019 | 3,283 (RV) | ± 1.7% | 38% | 48% | – | 14% |
| St. Pete Polls[25] | May 6 – June 1, 2019 | 3,790 (RV) | ± 1.6% | 59% | 26% | – | 14% |
Amendment 4
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 4 | Against Florida Amendment 4 | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Florida[14] | October 1–4, 2020 | 2,943 (LV) | – | 52%[c] | 41% | 7%[k] |
| Cherry Communications/Florida Chamber of Commerce[21][C] | September 23–29, 2020 | 604 (LV) | ± 4% | 61% | – | – |
| St. Pete Polls[22] | September 21–22, 2020 | 2,906 (LV) | ± 1.8% | 44% | 31% | 25% |
| St. Pete Polls[27] | October 7–10, 2019 | 3,283 (RV) | ± 1.7% | 49% | 30% | 21% |
Amendment 5
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 5 | Against Florida Amendment 5 | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Florida[14] | October 1–4, 2020 | 2,928 (LV) | – | 67%[c] | 26% | 7%[l] |
Amendment 6
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 6 | Against Florida Amendment 6 | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Florida[14] | October 1–4, 2020 | 2,913 (LV) | – | 88%[c] | 8% | 4%[m] |
See also
- Elections in Florida
- Bilingual elections requirement for Florida (per Voting Rights Act Amendments of 2006)[28]
- Politics of Florida
- Government of Florida
Notes
- Including 3 vacancies
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - Questions in this poll were preceded by the pollster's assessment of each measure's potential effects beforehand
- Includes "Refused"
- Would not vote with 2%
- Includes "Refused"
- Would not vote with 1%
- Would not vote with 2%
- Includes "Refused"
- Would not vote with 1%
- Includes "Refused"
- Includes "Refused"
- Includes "Refused"
Partisan clients