Questions about membership? Contact famp@miamifamp.org
Questions about membership? Contact famp@miamifamp.org
-Rick Fabricio, VP & Government Affairs Chair – FAMP Miami
November 4, 2026
The 2026 midterm elections delivered a Democratic wave nationally, handing Democrats control of both chambers of Congress. While Florida Republicans successfully defended every major statewide office, Democrats made substantial gains in the Legislature and challenged several congressional districts expected to favor Republicans. The results suggest a more competitive political landscape heading into 2027.
Miami-Dade County: Voters Favor Accountability and Local Control
Miami-Dade voters approved five of six County Charter amendments and overwhelmingly renewed the existing one-mill property tax supporting public schools, with approximately 82% voting in favor. Other approved measures established an independent commission to set County Commissioner salaries (53%), increased candidate residency requirements (77%), coordinated certain special elections with regular elections (74%), updated the charter to reflect elected constitutional officers (69%), and implemented administrative changes (63%).
The only rejected measure was Referendum 6, which would have expanded advertising in county parks, with approximately 60% voting against it. The results reflect support for government accountability and public services while demonstrating resistance to the commercialization of public recreational spaces.
City of Miami: Virginia Key Redevelopment Rejected
One of the most contentious local issues was the proposed redevelopment of the Rickenbacker and Marine Stadium marinas on Virginia Key. The proposal involved a 45-year lease, with two 15-year renewal options, covering approximately 27.6 acres of waterfront property in exchange for $80 million in private improvements and long-term rental revenue. Supporters promoted the modernization of aging facilities without public capital investment, while opponents questioned the financial terms, environmental impacts, public access, and displacement of existing businesses, including Gramps Getaway. More than 65% of voters rejected the proposal, signaling concerns over long-term private control of valuable public waterfront property.
Voters approved the city’s other two measures: the $450 million Safe and Ready Miami public safety bond, with approximately 61% support, and a permanent bond oversight committee, with approximately 71%. The contrasting outcomes suggest voters support infrastructure investment but expect financial accountability and protection of public assets.
Florida Constitutional Amendments: Property Tax Relief Prevails
Of the three proposed constitutional amendments, only Amendment 3 passed, receiving approximately 62% support. The measure increases the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, while lowering the annual assessment cap on non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. Effective January 1, 2027, the changes provide significant property tax relief but create budget challenges for local governments. A special legislative session before Governor DeSantis leaves office remains a possibility to address implementation.
Amendment 1, increasing Florida’s rainy day fund cap, failed with approximately 59% voting against it, despite Republican Party support and Governor DeSantis’ opposition. Amendment 2, exempting certain agricultural equipment from property taxes, received approximately 58% support but fell short of the required 60%. Property tax reform will remain a central issue during the upcoming legislative session.
Florida Legislature: Republicans Lose Their Supermajority Advantage
The most significant Republican setback came in the Florida Legislature, where Democrats substantially exceeded expectations in the House. Republicans are projected to lose approximately 15 seats, reducing their majority to roughly 70 Republicans and 50 Democrats and ending their two-thirds supermajority.
In the Senate, Republicans retained control, with projections showing 25 Republicans, 14 Democrats, and one vacancy pending a special election. Although the losses were considerably smaller than those in the House, Republicans also fell below the 27 seats necessary for a two-thirds Senate majority.
While Republicans maintain control of both chambers, the results change the dynamics for legislation requiring supermajority approval and increase the importance of party unity. Florida’s relatively limited Senate losses also contrast with Republican legislative setbacks nationally.
Organizational session begins the week of November 17, when incoming House Speaker Sam Garrison and Senate President Jim Boyd will formally assume their leadership positions.
Congressional Races: Redistricting Falls Short of Expectations
Florida’s newly redrawn congressional map was expected to strengthen Republican opportunities, but the anticipated advantage did not fully materialize. Democrats Kathy Castor and Jared Moskowitz defended their seats despite more Republican-friendly districts, while Democrat Pia Dandiya won the newly configured 22nd Congressional District.
Republicans Anna Paulina Luna and Mario Díaz-Balart maintained their seats, while María Elvira Salazar’s closely contested race against Eliott Rodriguez remained subject to final tabulation and a possible recount. Republicans are positioned to retain their overall advantage in Florida’s congressional delegation, but Democrats demonstrated that favorable district boundaries alone cannot overcome broader electoral trends.
Florida Cabinet: Republicans Retain All Three Offices
Republicans successfully defended all three elected Cabinet positions, although several races were considerably closer than anticipated.
Attorney General James Uthmeier defeated Democrat José Javier Rodríguez, while Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson secured another term against Joey Mendoza Atkins.
Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia defeated Democrat Annette Taddeo by approximately two percentage points. Ingoglia has been a solid partner and accessible advocate for the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals (FAMP), maintaining an open dialogue on issues affecting mortgage originators, consumers, and Florida’s housing market. His willingness to engage with industry professionals and understand the challenges facing mortgage lending has made that relationship particularly valuable. His reelection provides continuity in those conversations as Florida addresses property tax reform, insurance costs, and housing affordability.
The Republican sweep preserves unified statewide executive leadership, although the narrower margins highlight an increasingly competitive political environment.
Governor: Byron Donalds Wins Historic Election
The most closely watched statewide contest was the race to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. Republican Congressman Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly in one of Florida’s closest gubernatorial elections in recent years.
With nearly all votes counted, Donalds received approximately 50% of the vote compared with Jolly’s 48.7%, a margin of roughly 1.3 percentage points. Donalds will become Florida’s first Black governor when he takes office January 5, 2027.
His victory preserves Republican control of the Governor’s Mansion, although the narrow margin contrasts sharply with DeSantis’ decisive 2022 reelection. Donalds will inherit significant challenges, including implementing Amendment 3, managing pressure on local government budgets, addressing housing affordability and insurance costs, and working with a Legislature where Republicans no longer hold their previous supermajorities.
U.S. Senate: Ashley Moody Holds the Republican Seat
In Florida’s U.S. Senate special election, Republican Ashley Moody defeated Democrat Angie Nixon, receiving approximately 50.9% of the vote compared with Nixon’s 48%. Moody will serve the remainder of Marco Rubio’s original Senate term, keeping the seat Republican.
Her victory comes against the backdrop of a major national political shift, with Democrats capturing both chambers of Congress. That change will complicate President Trump’s legislative agenda during the remaining two years of his term and place Florida’s Republican congressional delegation in the minority.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 election produced two very different outcomes. Nationally, Democrats gained control of Congress and made significant advances in state legislatures. Florida Republicans retained every major statewide office but experienced substantial legislative losses and unexpectedly competitive congressional races.
At the local level, voters supported targeted public investment and property tax relief while demanding accountability and greater scrutiny of government decisions involving public assets.
For government affairs, the intersection of property tax reform, housing affordability, insurance costs, and local government funding will be among the most consequential issues heading into 2027. Amendment 3 will require significant legislative attention, while reduced Republican supermajorities introduce new dynamics in Tallahassee.
Florida remains under Republican leadership, but the Democratic gains this election cycle raise concerns about a potential shift away from the policies that have defined the state’s direction in recent years. Greater pressure for increased government spending, expanded regulation, and a less business-friendly approach could challenge Florida’s longstanding emphasis on fiscal discipline, economic growth, and limited government. While the balance of power has not changed, the election results signal that the policy direction Florida has followed in recent years may face greater resistance in Tallahassee and Washington.
