“District 14” means two different things in Hillsborough County this year, and search results mix them together constantly. If you’re trying to figure out what election is actually coming up, this two-minute explainer sorts it out with official-source facts.
The Special Election That Already Happened: State Senate District 14
The State Senate District 14 seat came open when Sen. Jay Collins was appointed Florida’s lieutenant governor in 2025. Gov. DeSantis set a special election, and because only one candidate per party qualified, the race went straight to a special general election on March 24, 2026. Democrat Brian Nathan defeated Republican Josie Tomkow 50.26% to 49.74% — 40,245 votes to 39,836, a 409-vote margin per official county results.
That seat is also on the ballot again this fall for its regular term: Nathan and Tomkow each qualified unopposed in their primaries, so their rematch appears only on the November 3 general ballot — State Senate District 14 is not on the August 18 primary ballot at all. District maps and details are on the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections site, votehillsborough.gov.
The Regular Election Coming Up: Congressional FL-14
Florida’s 14th Congressional District — the U.S. House seat — was redrawn in May 2026 to sit entirely within Hillsborough County, and some voters assumed a new district meant a special election. It doesn’t. The congressional race runs on the normal cycle:
- August 18, 2026 — primary election. Eight Republicans are on the ballot for FL-14 (the full verified field); there is no Democratic congressional primary because incumbent Kathy Castor qualified unopposed.
- November 3, 2026 — general election: the Republican nominee vs. Castor, plus a Libertarian and two write-in candidates.
New district, regular schedule. If the redraw moved you into FL-14 — as it did for Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, and most of eastern and southern Hillsborough — your first vote in the new district is the August 18 primary. Check Am I in the new FL-14? if you’re not sure.
Why the Confusion Is Everywhere
Three things collided: a state Senate District 14 special election in the spring, a congressional District 14 redraw in May, and new voter information cards landing in every Hillsborough mailbox this summer. Add search results that still describe the old congressional map, and “Florida District 14 special election 2026” became one of the most misleading searches in the county. The rule of thumb: State Senate District 14 = decided in March, rematch in November. Congressional FL-14 = regular primary August 18, general November 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a special election for Florida’s 14th Congressional District in 2026?
No. The congressional FL-14 race is a regular 2026 election: primary August 18, general November 3. The 2026 special elections in the area were for other offices, most notably State Senate District 14, decided March 24, 2026.
What was the District 14 special election in March 2026?
The State Senate District 14 special general election, held March 24, 2026 to fill the seat vacated when Jay Collins became lieutenant governor. Democrat Brian Nathan won 50.26% to 49.74% over Republican Josie Tomkow — a 409-vote margin per official results.
Is State Senate District 14 on the August 18 ballot?
No. For the regular 2026 term, incumbent Brian Nathan (D) and Josie Tomkow (R) each qualified without a primary opponent, so the SD-14 rematch appears only on the November 3 general election ballot.
When do I vote in the new congressional FL-14?
The primary is August 18, 2026 (early voting August 3–16; vote-by-mail requests due 5 PM August 6) and the general is November 3, 2026. Both use the new district map. See the full voting walkthrough in our how-to-vote guide.
Two Races, One Ballot Box
Don’t let the district-number collision cost you a vote that counts. Confirm your congressional district, see everything on your August 18 ballot, review who’s running in FL-14, and mark August 18.