The Winner

If you live in Florida’s 14th Congressional District, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) will keep representing you after winning an 11th term in a district Republicans redrew this year to favor their party. Her margin of about 5 points was the narrowest of her career, down from about 15 points in 2024 under the old lines. The Associated Press called the race for Castor at 8:13 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. ​

Castor won 51.2% of the vote to 45.8% for Republican Mike Beltran, a margin of 16,083 votes, in unofficial results. Libertarian Brian Lambert took 2.9%, and two write-in candidates also ran.

The Race

Beltran is an attorney who served in the Florida House from 2018 to 2024, representing parts of southeastern Hillsborough County. He won the Aug. 18 Republican primary with 45.6% of the vote. The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated the race a Toss-up, and Inside Elections rated it Tilt Republican.

Under the map Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in May, the district moved entirely into Hillsborough County and lost its share of Pinellas County, including part of St. Petersburg. Trump would have carried the new district by a little more than 10 points in 2024, while Harris won the old one by about 8. The redrawn district includes much of Tampa, including South Tampa and Town ’N’ Country, along with Riverview, Brandon and Plant City, and reaches east to the Polk County line and south to the Manatee County line.

About 786,900 people live in the district, and 28% of residents are Hispanic. The median household income is about $75,700, the median age is 39.5, and 41.6% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment is 4.8%, and 13.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

What’s Next

Castor’s new term begins Sunday, Jan. 3, in a House that Democrats won control of in the midterms. After her win, she said lowering the cost of living, including health care costs, would be her top priority, according to Tampa Bay 28. Beltran said he plans to run for the seat again in 2028.

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