As a result of DeSantis’s brutal map for Congressional races following the 2020 census, Democrats lost four House seats in 2022, a major factor in Republicans taking control.  This gerrymandering continues to have an effect this year, with only 4 races deemed by analysts to be competitive.  Here is a brief summary of those races where your vote is particularly important:

FL 09, Representative Darren Soto, Democrat, a former Florida state legislator, was first elected to this majority-Hispanic seat in 2016.  Following the Republican primary his opponent is Thomas Chalifoux, a wealthy military veteran and local developer who is self-funding his campaign.  Soto won re-election in ’22 in a district carried by DeSantis and it is rated as “Likely Democrat”

 

FL 13, Representative Anna Pauline Luna, Republican, is a first-term member of the House and, as a “MAGA activist” benefitted from the redistricting of the open seat to win in ’22.  Democrat Whitney Fox won the recent Democratic primary and has endorsements from state Democratic leaders and Emily’s List, important with the abortion access amendment expected to bring more liberal-minded voters to the polls.  Nevertheless, it is rated “Likely Republican.” 

 

FL 23, Representative Jared Moskowitz, Democrat,  ran in what has been a strong Democratic district, and won his first race for the House in ’22 by 5 points with DeSantis winning the district by one point.  His moderate record in Congress and strong fund-raising should help him defeat a novice Republican candidate, Joe Kaufman.  Rating:  Likely Democrat

 

FL 27, Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, Republican, won an upset victory in 2020 in this heavily Hispanic district as Trump also won in this formerly Democratic district.  Lucia Baez-Geller, the daughter of Columbian and Cuban immigrants, won the Democratic primary and has endorsements from national Democratic organizations, Emily’s List and the Miami Herald.  Rated:  Likely Republican