Gov. DeSantis sets Special Election to replace Josie Tomkow in HD 51

Gov. Ron DeSantis has set dates for a Special Election in House District 51 to replace Josie Tomkow, who is resigning to run for Senate.

The Special Primary will be Jan. 13, with the Special General Election set for March 24.

Tomkow announced last week that she was running in the Special Election for Senate District 14 in hopes of succeeding former Sen. Jay Collins, whom DeSantis tapped earlier this year as his Lieutenant Governor.

Tomkow was already facing term limits in the House, meaning candidates had already begun filing for the 2026 race to replace her. Three candidates have filed for the race so far, including Republicans Hilary Holley and Dorothea Taylor Bogert and Democrat Octavio Hernandez.

The northern Polk County seat has an advantage for Republicans, with nearly 34% of the electorate registered to the GOP, compared to just 31% who are Democrats, according to the most recent L2 voter data. Tomkow won her most recent re-election last year with 57% of the vote over Hernandez.

Holley entered the race in October and Tomkow has already endorsed her as her preferred successor.

Holley is a longtime agricultural advocate and former Executive Director of the Florida FFA Foundation.

Since launching her campaign, Holley has quickly consolidated backing from top Republican figures tied to the state’s agricultural community, including former Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who also previously served as a Senate President, and former Rep. Neil Combee.

Bogert is the current Mayor of Auburndale, located within HD 51.

In addition to Auburndale, HD 51 also includes Polk City and Lake Alfred.