ORLANDO, Fla. – Qualifying is over for federal elections, and most of the people who represent the Central Florida area will have to fend off primary challenges in their congressional districts.
Six U.S. House districts represent the nine-county area. Of those, only one incumbent will not face a challenge from their own political party Rep. Darren Soto), while another incumbent (Rep. Bill Posey) announced Friday they were retiring.
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The Florida statewide primary is Aug. 20. The deadline to register to vote for the primary is July 22.
[RELATED: Here’s everything you need to know to vote in Florida in 2024]
In District 3, which represents most of Marion County, incumbent Republican Rep. Kat Cammack faces a challenge from Alex Stevens. The winner of the primary will face Democrat Tom Wells in November.
In District 6, which includes parts of Flagler, Volusia and Marion counties, incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Waltz faces John Grow in the August primary. The winner will run against James Stockton III, a Democrat, and write-in Richard Dembinsky.
In District 7, which includes parts of Lake, Volusia and Seminole counties, incumbent Republican Rep. Cory Mills is being challenged by Republican Mike Johnson. The winner of the August primary will face the winner of a Democratic primary in November.
In District 8, which represents Brevard County and part of Orange, incumbent Republican Rep. Bill Posey announced Friday that he was retiring. He has thrown his support behind former Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, who filed Friday before the qualifying period ended.
Hardipolos will run against two Republicans in the August primary — Joe Babits and John Hearton. The winner will face the winner of a Democratic primary in November.
In District 9, which includes parts of Orange, Osceola and Polk counties, incumbent Democratic Rep. Darren Soto will not see a Democratic primary challenge in August. In November, he will face the winner of the Republican primary.
The other incumbent Democrat in Central Florida, Rep. Maxwell Frost, will have a primary challenge. Frost will face Wade Darius and V. “Issa” White in a primary for District 10, which represents Orange County. The winner will face the winner of the Republican primary in November.
Finally in District 11, which represents Polk, Lake and Sumter counties and part of Orange County, Republican incumbent Rep. Daniel Webster will be challenged by two Republicans in August — former State Rep. Anthony Sabatini, and John McCloy. The winner will face Democrat Barbie Harden Hall in November.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, the Republican incumbent, is also facing a primary challenge in August, against John Columbus and Keith Gross.
Florida Democrats proudly trumpeted that they had fielded a candidate in all 28 U.S. House districts, something they have not been successful at in the past.
To vote in Florida’s party primaries in August, you must be a member of a political party, because Florida is a closed primary state. If you are already registered to vote, you can change your political party by updating your voter registration, but you must do so by July 22.
These won’t be the only races on the August ballot, there will be state and local races too, for the Florida Legislature and county seats like sheriff or school board. Some of them will be nonpartisan, which means they will be open to all voters. Candidates for state and local office must qualify in June.
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