Who's In the Race
Florida's 18th Congressional District is featuring Republican incumbent Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL) and Democratic challenger Curtis Gibson in the Nov. 3 general election.
Franklin is a three-term congressman first elected in 2020 who served 26 years as a Naval Aviator and spent two decades in insurance and risk management, including as president and CEO of a Lakeland firm; he also served as a Lakeland city commissioner and mayor pro tem. Gibson is a former Lake Wales city commissioner and current property manager of Eagle Ridge Mall who also runs a small business; he previously worked as a USPS letter carrier and a Polk County School Board paraprofessional.
What They Stand For
Franklin has proposed lowering taxes, reducing federal spending, and diminishing regulation in order to drive economic growth, according to his campaign website. He has declared his support for "protecting human life," referring to his anti-abortion stance on his campaign website, as well as stated that he "strongly oppose[s] attempts to limit the rights of law-abiding gun owners." Franklin serves on both the House Committee on Appropriations as well as the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Gibson has proposed a federal reinsurance backstop to help stabilize property insurance and reduce premiums, per his campaign website. He has also said he will strive to provide timely local medical care for veterans, with access to covered local providers when VA facilities are not nearby,property-tax protections to keep seniors and working families in their homes, resilient citrus replanting and shielding agriculture from unchecked development; and heartland infrastructure funding.
The Money Behind the Race
Through July 29, Franklin had raised about $850,000 and held about $961,000 in cash on hand. Through June 30, Gibson had raised about $12,000 and had roughly $1,500 on hand, according to FEC filings.
Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets
Cook Political Report rated the race Solid Republican as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Solid Republican as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it Solid Republican as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans a 92.94% chance of winning as of Oct. 15.
The district's history helps explain that consensus. Franklin won the seat with about 75% of the vote in 2022 and about 65% in 2024. Republicans held 20 of Florida's 28 U.S. House seats in both 2022 and 2024. Nationwide, Donald Trump carried Florida in the 2024 presidential election with about 56% of the vote.
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