How To Use This Guide

1. Pick the issues you care about. Rank the two or three that matter most to you.
2. Find which office handles them. The U.S. House and U.S. Senate write federal law and set the federal budget, and the Senate also confirms federal judges and approves treaties. The three statewide amendments would change Florida’s constitution, mostly on taxes and state savings. The Hillsborough County measures decide how the school superintendent is chosen, how many county commissioners there are and whether a school sales tax continues.
3. Compare the candidates. Read where each candidate stands on your top issues, then read the candidates’ own words and who funds each campaign.

The U.S. House Race

What This Office Does

U.S. House members serve two-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget. All bills that raise taxes must start in the House. The redrawn 14th District now sits entirely in Hillsborough County, covering much of Tampa, including South Tampa and Town ’N’ Country, and running through Riverview east to the Polk County line and south to the Manatee County line, according to FOX 13’s analysis of the new map. The new lines drop the Democratic areas of St. Petersburg the district used to include. ​

The change makes the seat more Republican. Kamala Harris won the old district 53.3% to 45.6% in 2024, while Donald Trump would have won the new one 54.7% to 44.2%, according to Ballotpedia’s general election overview. On Wednesday, June 10, the Florida Supreme Court voted 6 to 1 to deny a request to block the map, saying it lacked jurisdiction, which let the map stand for 2026 while the legal challenge continues, according to WUSF’s report on the ruling.

Candidates In Brief

Republican Mike Beltran is a trial lawyer who runs Beltran Litigation and served in the Florida House from 2018 to 2024. Beltran holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and once clerked for a federal district judge in Tampa, according to Beltran’s Ballotpedia profile. Beltran won a crowded Republican primary on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), the Democratic nominee, has represented the Tampa area in the U.S. House since 2007. Castor served on the Hillsborough County Commission from 2002 to 2006 and earlier worked as an environmental lawyer and as an assistant general counsel for the Florida Department of Community Affairs.

Libertarian Brian Lambert served in the U.S. Navy from 1998 to 2018, retiring as a petty officer first class, according to Lambert’s iVoterGuide profile. Salomon Hernandez Sr. and Keith Varian are certified write-in candidates.

Where They Stand

Cost of living and the budget. Castor says rising health care costs and “the cost of living is just soul-crushing right now,” according to WFLA’s Tiger Bay forum coverage. Beltran puts the national debt first, saying, “We spend two trillion dollars a year more than we take in,” and wants to bring Florida’s balanced budget approach to Washington, D.C.

Taxes. Beltran backs ending federal taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits and says Castor opposed those cuts, according to Fox News’ interview with Beltran. Lambert supports a flat tax and spending cuts to reduce the national debt, including an audit of the Pentagon.

Education. Beltran says the federal government should stay out of schools, noting the Constitution “doesn’t say anything about education,” according to WUSF’s recap of the Tampa Tiger Bay Club debate. Castor defends federal programs, including Pell Grants, aid to Title I schools and support for students with disabilities. Lambert would close the U.S. Department of Education.

Transit. Castor wants more federal support for mass transit. Beltran opposes taxpayer subsidies for what Beltran calls “special interests.”

Housing, flood insurance and farm subsidies. Beltran says, “Everything that the federal government does increases the costs of a home,” would keep National Flood Insurance Program benefits in place and says “most government programs should be means tested,” according to FOX 13’s interview with Beltran. Beltran would also vote to end federal sugar subsidies.

Foreign policy and defense. Beltran says North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies should spend more on their own defense because “It cannot be a one-sided exchange.” Lambert favors restraint, phasing out foreign aid and requiring a vote of Congress before any war.

Abortion and guns. Lambert personally opposes abortion but says, “I won’t legislate my way into that exam room,” and opposes taxpayer funding for abortion providers. Lambert also opposes new limits on gun ownership for law-abiding citizens, saying, “Shall not be infringed means what it says.”

In Their Own Words

Kathy Castor, at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club debate in Ybor City, Friday, Oct. 16:

“I’ve run into so many families that they can’t afford their healthcare anymore.”

Mike Beltran, at the same debate:

“We absolutely need to address the federal debt and the outrageous deficit that we have.”

Questionnaires And Debates

Castor and Beltran debated on WMNF 88.5 FM on Friday, Oct. 2, covering redistricting, stock trading, immigration, tariffs, health care, abortion, the U.S. Supreme Court, Social Security, Israel and the Democratic Socialists of America, according to WMNF’s debate page, where the full audio is posted. The Tampa Bay Times debate story reported that the two sparred over abortion and socialism. They met again at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club on Friday, Oct. 16, where Castor called Beltran a “rubber stamp” for the Trump administration and Beltran said Beltran would be an independent voice. Beltran completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey, and Lambert answered iVoterGuide’s questionnaire.

Endorsements

Beltran is endorsed by Trump, who announced it Wednesday, Sept. 2, according to the Floridian Press. Beltran responded, “It’s time to retire Kathy Castor, and we’re going to get it done.”

Before the primary, Castor was endorsed by EMILYs List on Thursday, June 4, according to the EMILYs List announcement. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee placed Castor in its Frontline program for vulnerable incumbents, and the National Republican Congressional Committee lists the district as a target.

Who Is Funding Them

These figures are Federal Election Commission (FEC) totals for the 2026 cycle as shown on AllCiv’s Florida 14th District race page as of Wednesday, Oct. 14. Castor reported raising $4.9 million and spending $4.6 million, with $577,000 on hand. Beltran reported raising $2.7 million and spending about $1 million, with $1.7 million on hand and $2 million in debt. Lambert reported raising $17,000, with $2,000 on hand.

Donors who give more than $200 in a cycle are listed by name in FEC filings. Smaller gifts are reported only as a lump total, so small donors’ names are not public.

The Incumbent’s Record

Castor serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where Castor is the top Democrat on the energy subcommittee, and on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. This Congress, Castor has voted in 635 of 645 roll call votes and voted against most Democrats 12 times out of 597, according to AllCiv’s vote data. Castor has cosponsored 351 bills.

Club for Growth Action ran an ad on Monday, Sept. 14, saying Castor “repeatedly” broke the law meant to stop insider trading by members of Congress. PolitiFact rated the ad Mostly False, finding that a 2021 filing that appeared late was corrected two days later and that Castor disclosed three 2016 trades late in 2017. PolitiFact noted that late disclosure is not evidence of insider trading and that Castor has not been charged or penalized.

Challengers’ Records

Beltran represented parts of Hillsborough County in the Florida House from 2018 to 2024, first in District 57 and then in District 70, and did not seek a fourth term. Lambert has not held public office.

The U.S. Senate Race

What This Office Does

U.S. senators vote on every federal law and the federal budget. The Senate also confirms presidential nominees, including federal judges, and approves treaties. This is a special election to finish the term Marco Rubio left to become secretary of state, so the winner serves through January 2029 rather than a full six years.

Candidates In Brief

Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL), the Republican nominee, was appointed to the seat by Gov. Ron DeSantis and sworn in Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. Moody served as Florida attorney general from 2019 to 2025 and earlier as a federal prosecutor and a Hillsborough County circuit judge. Moody won about 80% of the vote in the Aug. 18 Republican primary, according to WFTV.

State Rep. Angela “Angie” Nixon (D-Jacksonville), the Democratic nominee, has represented Jacksonville in the Florida House since 2020, runs a bookstore and coffee shop and is executive director of Florida for All, a voter registration coalition. Nixon beat Alexander Vindman with about 56% of the vote in the Aug. 18 Democratic primary.

Neil J. Gillespie, who has no party affiliation, founded the advocacy group Justice Network and has not held public office, according to Gillespie’s Ballotpedia profile.

Where They Stand

Cost of living and taxes. Moody backs no federal tax on tips, overtime or Social Security and cites the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s tax cuts, according to the Florida Voters Guide Senate page. Nixon would impose a 5% yearly wealth tax on billionaires, repeal the 2025 tax cuts, ban corporations from inflating grocery and fuel prices and repeal the administration’s tariffs.

Health care. Nixon would move toward “Medicare for All” in steps, starting with extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. Moody voted against extending those enhanced subsidies in December 2025. Gillespie backs a national health coverage system that people could opt out of.

Housing and insurance. Nixon would cap rent increases at 10% in some areas, stop private equity firms from buying single-family homes and change zoning to allow duplexes. Nixon would also create a public property insurance option, with profits going into a disaster fund.

Immigration. Moody says the Biden administration did “historic damage” to the immigration system and backs a bill expanding fast-track deportation for immigrants convicted of certain crimes. Nixon calls the current deportation campaign “inhumane and immoral” and backs a path to citizenship for mixed-status families. Gillespie backs legal, vetted immigration and removal of people who entered illegally.

Crime. Moody backs tougher penalties and expanding the death penalty for the most violent crimes. Moody says, “We cannot let soft-on-crime policies affect the safety of our citizens.”

Elections and schools. Moody backs the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, and universal school choice. Nixon opposes the SAVE Act and opposed Florida’s universal voucher law in the Florida House.

Abortion. Moody opposes abortion and has sponsored related bills. Nixon opposes Florida’s six-week ban, saying, “Medical decisions should be made by patients and their doctors not legislators.”

Climate and energy. Moody backs expanding U.S. energy production but opposes drilling off Florida’s coasts. Nixon calls climate change “the most impactful environmental issue in Florida” and says data centers “must pay their fair share” of utility costs.

Foreign policy. Nixon would keep U.S. commitments to NATO, use every diplomatic option before any conflict over Taiwan and restore Obama-era Cuba policy. Gillespie says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be held responsible for the Oct. 7 attacks and the war with Iran.

In Their Own Words

Ashley Moody, in campaign material cited in WKMG News 6’s voter guide, Friday, Oct. 16:

“The Biden administration did historic damage to our country’s immigration and national security structures.”

Angie Nixon, in the same guide:

“We must increase the housing supply in Florida to keep pace with the rapidly growing population.”

Questionnaires And Debates

Nixon answered WKMG News 6’s candidate survey, and Moody and Gillespie did not. Gillespie completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey.

No debate has been held. Nixon accepted an invitation to a Florida Atlantic University debate on Tuesday, Oct. 13, and Moody declined. Talks for a debate hosted by Action News Jax and the University of North Florida stalled in September, and Moody said of Nixon, “I’m not going to give a stage or any attention to that,” per Jacksonville Today. Nixon has called Moody’s refusal “pure cowardice.”

Endorsements

Before the primary, Moody was endorsed by Trump, per FOX 35’s report on the endorsement; Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL); Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson; and Associated Industries of Florida.

Nixon is endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), per WLRN’s Sanders report; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), per WLRN’s Ocasio-Cortez report; Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL); and EMILYs List.

Who Is Funding Them

These are FEC totals for the 2026 cycle as shown on AllCiv’s Florida U.S. Senate race page as of Wednesday, Oct. 14. Moody reported raising $14.5 million, with $816,000 on hand. Nixon reported raising $11.3 million, with $3.3 million on hand. Gillespie reported raising $13,000, with $634 on hand.

The Incumbent’s Record

Moody serves on the Senate Armed Services; Judiciary; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; and Aging committees, and on the Joint Economic Committee. This Congress, Moody has voted in 850 of 861 roll call votes and voted against most Republicans four times out of 840, according to AllCiv’s vote data. Bills Moody sponsored that reached the Senate floor include the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, the Drone Espionage Act, the Home School Graduation Recognition Act and the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act. As attorney general in 2023, Moody asked the Florida Supreme Court to keep a proposed abortion rights amendment off the ballot.

Two attacks on Moody’s record drew fact-checks. PolitiFact rated Mostly False Nixon’s claim that Moody got $2 million richer trading stocks in Congress, because disclosures list only broad value ranges that cannot show gains. It also rated Mostly False a New Deal for All ad calling Moody the “deciding vote” against releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files. Moody did vote with most Republicans in September 2025 to table a Democratic amendment that would have required the release, but Vice President JD Vance stood ready to break any tie, and Moody later agreed to the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Challengers’ Records

Nixon has served in the Florida House since 2020 and represents District 13 in Jacksonville. Gillespie has not held public office.

Scorecards Readers Can Check

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America gives Moody an A+, and the League of Conservation Voters scored Moody 0% for 2025, counting 35 votes it rated anti-environment, according to WKMG News 6. Different groups score different sets of votes, so their ratings measure different things.

Also On Your Ballot

Florida Amendments

Florida has three statewide constitutional amendments on the ballot, all placed there by the Legislature. Each needs 60% of the vote to pass.

Amendment 1: Budget Stabilization Fund. A Yes vote raises the cap on the state’s savings account for emergencies from 10% to 25% of general revenue, requires lawmakers to deposit the lesser of $750 million or the amount needed to reach the cap each year unless certain conditions are met and lets them withdraw money for “critical state needs.” A No vote keeps the 10% cap. The House passed it 100 to 1 and the Senate 29 to 4 in June 2025, according to Ballotpedia’s summary of the vote. The Republican Party of Florida and Florida TaxWatch support it, and DeSantis opposes it, calling it “foolish,” according to News4JAX.

Amendment 2: Farm Equipment Tax Exemption. A Yes vote exempts farm and agritourism equipment, such as machinery and tools, from property taxes starting in 2027, under limits lawmakers would set. A No vote keeps the current rule, which exempts the first $25,000 of any business’s equipment. The House passed it 110 to 1, and a House revenue conference estimated it would cut taxes by at least $28.7 million a year. Sponsor state Sen. Keith Truenow (R-Tavares)says it helps farmers reinvest in their operations, and state Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando), the lone No vote, says it mainly benefits large agribusinesses and strains local budgets, according to Florida Politics.

Amendment 3: Homestead Exemption and Local Property Taxes. A Yes vote raises the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then adjusts it for inflation. It cuts the yearly cap on assessment increases for non-homestead property, such as rentals and businesses, from 10% to 5%, and limits what counties and cities may spend property taxes on. People who are not Florida residents on Dec. 31 would get the larger exemption starting in their fifth year of homestead exemption. Counties and cities could raise the exemption further, up to a home’s full value. A No vote keeps current exemptions, caps and local spending rules. The Legislature approved it Tuesday, June 2, by 75 to 26 in the House and 30 to 9 in the Senate, according to WKMG News 6. State economists estimate, as reported by WUSF, that local governments would collect nearly $5 billion less in the first year and nearly $12 billion less a year once fully in effect. DeSantis and Scott support it, saying taxpayers would keep more and local governments would cut waste. The Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Professional Firefighters and the Florida Association of Counties oppose it, citing cuts to local budgets, especially public safety.

Hillsborough County Measures

County Referendum 1: Elected School Superintendent. A Yes vote makes the Hillsborough County schools superintendent an elected office, chosen in a partisan election for a four-year term starting with the 2028 general election. A No vote keeps the School Board’s power to appoint the superintendent. The measure comes from HB 4027, filed by state Rep. Michael Owen (R-Apollo Beach), which passed the Florida House 86 to 26 on Wednesday, Feb. 11, and the Senate 36 to 0 on Wednesday, March 11, according to the Florida Senate’s HB 4027 page. Owen says 39 other Florida districts already elect their superintendent and parents should be able to hold the office accountable. The School Board voted unanimously on Tuesday, Oct. 6, to oppose the measure, and Vice Chair Nadia Combs said, “We have to keep politics out of schools,” according to Bay News 9.

County Referendum 2: Larger County Commission. A Yes vote expands the Hillsborough County Commission from seven to nine members, or 11 once the county reaches 2.5 million people, and ends the three countywide seats so every commissioner is elected by one district. It also requires a “majority plus one” vote to hire or fire the county administrator and county attorney. A No vote keeps four district seats and three countywide seats. A Florida House analysis of the authorizing bill, HB 4029, estimates county costs of $1.9 million to $2.3 million in the first full year and $1.1 million in the second, plus a one-time $740,000 for new voter information cards. Owen, a former county commissioner who also filed this bill, says countywide elections concentrate power in Tampa and dilute suburban voters’ influence, according to WUSF’s report on the measure.

County Referendum 3: School Sales Tax. A Yes vote continues the half-cent school sales tax for 10 more years starting Jan. 1, 2029, for air conditioning, construction, renovations, security and maintenance. A No vote lets the tax end when the current levy expires. The money cannot pay salaries or routine operating costs, every school is guaranteed at least $500,000 in improvements and a citizen oversight committee monitors spending, according to WUSF’s school funding roundup. The campaign supporting it, Half-Penny Promise, says the tax has raised $1.5 billion since 2019 for more than 900 projects.

Country Run Special Tax District. Voters who live in the Country Run Special Tax District will also decide whether to raise the district’s yearly maintenance assessment from $50 to $75, with possible increases of $25 a year up to a $200 cap. The question appears only on ballots for voters in that district.

Before You Go

Still Ahead

  • Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line at 7 p.m. may vote. You must vote at your assigned precinct, which the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections lists.
  • Mail ballots must reach the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. A postmark does not count, so return a ballot in person at a supervisor’s office or drop box if time is short.
  • Photo ID: Bring a current photo ID with a signature, such as a Florida driver license or ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, student ID or concealed weapon license, according to Florida’s voter ID rules as summarized by the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. If the ID has no signature, bring a second ID that does. A voter without ID may cast a provisional ballot, which counts if the signature matches the one on file.
  • In the booth: You may bring a marked sample ballot or notes and use your phone to read them or photograph your own ballot, but you may not take other photos in the polling room. Campaigning is barred within 150 feet of a polling place entrance, according to NBC 6.
  • Questions: Call the Florida Division of Elections voter assistance hotline at 1-866-308-6739, or call or text the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

Deadlines That Have Passed

  • Registration closed Monday, Oct. 5.
  • Mail ballot requests were due at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.
  • Early voting ran from Monday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 1, at 27 sites across Hillsborough County, according to FOX 13’s early voting guide.

Sources

AllCiv Profiles and Race Pages

Official Records

Candidate Statements and Questionnaires

News

Ballot Measures

Endorsements

Voting Information

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