Who's In the Race

James Pericola won the Democratic primary and will face Republican Joe Strada, who won the Republican primary, in the Nov. 3 general election in Florida's 11th District, with a Libertarian also on the ballot. The seat is open because Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) announced he would not seek reelection after his term ends. ​

Pericola says he has spent more than 30 years in public service, including as a presidential appointee in the Clinton administration, a congressional staff member, an attorney, and a senior government-affairs executive; he also served as a special assistant to the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board and began his career as a staff assistant to Sen. Bob Graham. He won the Democratic primary with 20,833 votes, over runner-up Royal Webster, who received 12,356 votes, and Dan Williams, who received 11,759 votes. Strada describes himself as a Central Florida businessman who started in the skilled trades and grew a family-owned company into thousands of careers and paid-training pathways. He won the Republican primary with 27,245 votes, edging runner-up Carey Baker, who received 26,842 votes.

What They Stand For

Pericola has proposed eliminating income taxes for people earning less than $100,000 a year, according to his campaign website. He's also supported:

  • Opposing cuts or privatization of Social Security and Medicare, and supporting Medicare negotiating lower prescription-drug prices,
  • Protecting the Affordable Care Act to expand access to affordable health care,
  • Seeking federal funding to address the housing crisis and lower property-insurance costs; and
  • Ending gerrymandering and passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

Strada has proposed a balanced-budget amendment that would require the federal government to live within its means, according to his campaign website. He's also supported:

  • Investigating possible congressional insider trading and holding public officials accountable for using public office for personal financial gain,
  • Firm congressional term limits, saying Washington should not become "a lifetime career,"
  • Finishing the border wall and stopping illegal crossings; and
  • Protecting Social Security and Medicare benefits, saying the government should "keep the promises made to seniors."

Ralph Groves, a recent chair of the Libertarian Party of Orange County, calls himself "pro-human rights and pro-2nd Amendment," and his campaign lists anti-war policy and support for U.S. defense industries among his main positions.

The Money Behind the Race

The race has drawn a combined total of about $7.4 million across all candidates. FEC filings did not include individual fundraising figures for Pericola and Strada through the period covered. Outside groups had spent about $283,000 in the race as of Oct. 13, all of it supporting Republican candidates. Conservatives for American Excellence Inc. spent $218,209 supporting Joe Strada, while Advance Liberty PAC spent $64,404 supporting Anthony Sabatini, a Republican.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

The Cook Political Report rated the race "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball also rated it "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans an 86.41 percent chance of winning, compared with 13.59 percent for Democrats as of Oct. 13.

Webster carried the district with about 63 percent in 2022 and about 60 percent in 2024. Republicans held 20 of Florida's 28 U.S. House seats after both the 2022 and 2024 elections. Donald Trump carried Florida in the 2024 presidential election with about 56 percent of the vote.

Florida's voter-registration deadline for this race was Monday, Oct. 5; same-day registration is not available. The deadline to apply for a mail ballot is Thursday, Oct. 22, at 5:00 p.m. Statewide mandatory early voting runs Saturday, Oct. 24, through Saturday, Oct. 31, with hours set by each county supervisor of elections; Lake County offers early voting Monday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sumter County runs Saturday, Oct. 24, through Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Marion County runs Thursday, Oct. 22, through Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time.

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