Key facts
- Florida's new redistricting map has altered several congressional districts.
- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz switched districts due to the redrawn map.
- Rep. Jared Moskowitz is running in a newly configured district against Scott Singer.
- Rep. Kathy Castor's district now leans Republican, potentially making her re-election challenging.
- Rep. Darren Soto's district has shifted to become more conservative.
- Significant ad spending is already occurring in competitive Florida races.
Florida Republicans are expressing concerns about their ability to fully leverage the state's new congressional district map to their advantage. The redistricting process has significantly altered several districts, forcing incumbent Democrats to make strategic decisions about their re-election campaigns.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has switched districts, while Rep. Jared Moskowitz is now running in a reshaped district against former Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer. This race is anticipated to be one of the most expensive in the nation, with over $26 million already spent on advertising. Trump carried this district by nearly 9 points in 2024, and DeSantis won it by 8.3 points in 2022.
Other Democratic incumbents, Reps. Darren Soto and Kathy Castor, also face districts that have been dramatically changed. Castor's Tampa Bay-area seat, which she has held for nearly 20 years, was reconfigured into a district Trump won by slightly over 10 points in 2024, potentially making it a difficult seat to hold. Her challenger, Mike Beltran, a former legislator, voiced confidence in defeating her, criticizing her voting record.
Castor described her race as highly competitive and stated that voters are expressing anger over economic policies, including tariffs and changes to Obamacare subsidies. Meanwhile, Soto's central Florida district has lost blue-leaning areas and gained conservative rural counties, shifting towards the Republican heartland. Soto is being challenged by Dan Green, a former Navy veteran appointed to a Pentagon role by Trump.