Special Election scheduled to replace Randy Fine in SD 19

A Special Election has been called to replace state Sen. Randy Fine in Senate District 19.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has scheduled a Special Primary for April 1, with a Special General Election to be held on June 10.

The seat opened up as Fine, a Palm Bay Republican, runs for Congress. Per Florida’s “resign to run” law, he has to vacate his seat, and has already submitted an irrevocable resignation effective March 31.

According to Florida Today, a qualifying period begins at 8 a.m. on Feb. 3 and closes at noon on Feb. 4, a Tuesday.

Fine just won election in the district in November, when he defeated Democrat Vance Ahrens with more than 59% of the vote. Fine succeeded former state Sen. Debbie Mayfield, a Melbourne Republican who now represents House District 32.

Already, Ahrens and Mayfield both say they intend to run for the open Senate seat.

The Primary date for the Senate Special Election will take place the same day as the General Election in Florida’s 6th Congressional District, where Fine is one of eight candidates qualified in the race to succeed former U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, now President Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser.

Ahrens already filed to run in the 2028 cycle but hasn’t reported any fundraising to date.

Mayfield, a former Senate Majority Leader, raised more than $2,000 in her re-election campaign for the Florida House and will be able to transfer all of it to a Senate run. She also controls the political committee Conservatives for Good Government, which had more than $600,000 in cash on hand as of the end of 2024.

Senate District 19 falls entirely within Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast. It covers communities including Cape Canaveral in the north end to Grant Valkaria in the south.

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