Florida Democrats have increased the party’s share of the vote in two state special election victories.
On Tuesday night, RaShon Young and LaVon Bracy Davis won their elections for Florida’s House of Representatives and Senate, respectively. The proportion of the vote they both received was more than what former vice president and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris won in those seats in the November 2024 election.
Political experts who spoke to Newsweek were divided about what these results might mean for the Democratic Party’s chances in the midterms next year, amid a broader pattern of electorally exceeding expectations so far this year.
“Although I wouldn’t pop the champagne corks just yet if I were the Democrats, I would feel a bracing electoral wind at my back,” said Thomas Whalen, an associate professor who teaches U.S. politics at Boston University, about the two Florida elections.
RaShon Young (L) and Lavon Bracy Davis pictured during the special election campaign, in a photo uploaded to Young’s Instagram account on July 23.
Instagram/@rashonforfl
Why It Matters
Once a swing state, Florida has shifted towards Republicans in recent elections. President Donald Trump carried the state by 13 points against Harris in 2024.
While these special elections were for the state legislature, they could signal partisan realignment and a lack of satisfaction with the Trump administration. If this is the case, this could impact the GOP in the midterm elections, and thus the balance of the federal House and Senate.
What To Know
Young, a legislative staffer and former NASA engineer, won with 75 percent of the vote in House District 40. This is 8 percent more than the 67 percent Harris got there in 2024.
Meanwhile, Bracy Davis, who previously represented House District 40 in the state legislature, won Senate District 15 with 73 percent of the vote. Sixty-one percent of voters went for Harris there in November.
Bracy Davis won the seat left vacant by Democrat Geraldine Thompson, who died in February.
It comes after two Republican candidates won special elections in Florida in April, despite Democrats increasing their share of the vote in some areas.
Meanwhile in June, voting data indicated that the number of registered Democrats in the state had fallen to a record low while the number of Republicans registered in the state had increased.
Stock image of the state flag of Florida—on Tuesday night, Democrats won two special elections for the state House and Senate in the Sunshine State.
Getty
What People Are Saying
RaShon Young said: “I am humbled and deeply grateful to the people of House District 40 for the trust they have placed in me. Tonight’s victory is not just about one candidate. It’s about the 180,000 people who call this district home. It’s about proving that when we come together, when we fight for one another, and when we believe in the power of democracy, change is possible.”
LeVon Bracy Davis said: “First, I would like to thank the voters of Senate District 15 for placing their trust in me. Tonight’s victory is about more than winning an election, it’s a commitment to the future we will build together. The voters of District 15 have made their voices clear: they want leadership that tackles the affordability crisis, defends our freedoms, and ensures Florida remains a place where families can thrive.”
Mark Shanahan who teaches American politics at the University of Surrey in the U.K. said: “These were expected wins in Democrat districts, so while the candidates performed better than Kamala Harris last November, these were special elections for the Florida Legislature with a low turnout and no real expectations of Republican wins.
“At this stage, little can be read into individual elections and the overall trends are more important. The Democrats remain an outside bet to win a majority in the Senate next year, but have a much stronger chance of retaking the House. If they do so, they will stymie Trump’s legislative ambitions in his final two years in office, while also aiming to damage his legacy through a raft of Congressional investigations.”
Thomas Whalen, an associate professor who teaches U.S. politics at Boston University told Newsweek: “It’s certainly a cause for concern. You can’t get much redder than The Sunshine State. And with the GOP increasing their registered voter numbers, this should not happen unless there’s a deep undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the Trump Administration, especially their take from the poor and give to the rich economic policies.”
What Happens Next
More elections in Florida will take place in the November 2026 midterms.
Correction, 09/03/2025, 9:40 a.m. ET: This article has been amended to correct the spelling of RaShon Young’s name
Update, 09/03/2025, 11:59 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Thomas Whelan
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