Both Democrats and Republicans will have a U.S. Senate primary to vote on in the Aug. 18 primary. The ballot features four Republicans, including the incumbent, and two Democrats. Write-in and No Party Affiliation candidates who will be profiled ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates' answers were fact checked and only edited for space considerations. Editors used information from candidates' campaign websites if candidates did not send answers to our questions.
Chris Gleason, Republican
Campaign website: voteforgleason.com
Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? (From campaign website): "I didn't plan to run for office. I planned to serve my country, raise my family, and live in peace. But when I found what they're doing to our elections, I couldn't stay silent."
The Army veteran said: I swore an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That oath didn't expire when I took off the uniform. In 2024, I ran for Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. Not because I wanted a political career — because I wanted to understand why our elections felt broken. What I found was worse than anything I could have imagined. Using forensic data analysis — the same kind of pattern recognition I learned in military intelligence — I uncovered something extraordinary: 219,675 vote-by-mail ballot requests processed on a single Sunday, June 23, 2024, when every election office in the state was closed. So I pulled the thread. And it unraveled across every county in Florida. The same patterns. The same anomalies. The same impossible timestamps. Hundreds of thousands of ballots — across multiple election cycles — bearing the fingerprints of systematic manipulation.
I took this evidence to every level of the system. I filed cases in state court. I went to the Florida Supreme Court. I prepared federal criminal referrals. At every turn, I ran into the same wall: the people responsible for protecting our elections are the same people who benefit from keeping them broken. The judges adjudicating my cases were themselves affected by the very irregularities I was documenting. The officials I reported to had been elected through the same compromised process. The system is designed to protect itself. That's why I'm running for U.S. Senate. Because the only way to fix a broken system is to put someone inside it who has the evidence, the expertise, and the backbone to tear it open. Not a politician who will give speeches about election integrity while doing nothing. A forensic analyst who has already done the work.
Pressing issues:
Florida families are being crushed by inflation, rising property taxes, and skyrocketing insurance costs. Washington keeps spending, and Floridians keep paying. Chris will fight to cut regulations, unleash American energy and end the reckless spending that's driving up prices.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Chris Gleason will fight for federal incentives that force states and municipalities to streamline permitting, eliminate redundant building codes, and reform zoning laws — tying infrastructure funding to real reform that actually builds homes. Institutional investors now own over 117,000 single-family homes in Florida. In the first half of 2025, nearly one in three homes sold statewide went to an investor — the highest share in five years. Chris Gleason will codify the Trump executive order banning institutional investors from buying single-family homes into permanent law, push for a federal excise tax on bulk residential purchases, and require disclosure of beneficial ownership for every residential transaction — ending the shell companies that hide Wall Street's footprint.
Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Florida's fentanyl crisis starts at an open border. Chris supports finishing the wall, ending catch-and-release, deporting criminal aliens and defunding sanctuary jurisdictions.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Parents, not bureaucrats, should decide how their children are educated. Chris supports school choice, parental rights and getting woke ideology out of Florida classrooms.
Ashley Moody, Republican
Education: Sen. Ashley Moody is a three-time graduate of the University of Florida, where she earned her bachelor’s‚ master’s and law degrees. She also earned her Master of Laws from Stetson University. (SOURCE: Ashley Moody for U.S. Senate campaign website)
Occupation: U.S. Senator from Florida (incumbent)
Campaign website: ashleymoody.com
Immigration: The Biden administration did historic damage to our country’s immigration and national security structures, putting our nation and unaccompanied children at risk, and turning federal agencies into middlemen for mass human trafficking operations. As a United States Senator, I will continue to work with President Trump to not only reverse the failures of the Biden administration but ensure that it can never happen again. (SOURCE: Website of Sen. Ashley Moody)
https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-ashley-moody-introduces-legislation-to-empower-states-to-enforce-illegal-immigration-laws-prevent-human-trafficking-of-children-at-the-border/
Abortion restriction: In November 2023, then Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody urged the Florida Supreme Court to reject a proposed 2024 constitutional amendment that sought to ensure abortion rights, describing the measure as an effort to ‘hoodwink’ voters. She filed a 39-page brief¬†contending that the proposal should be kept off the 2024 ballot because the wording of the ballot summary would be misleading to voters. (SOURCE: News Service of Florida, Nov. 1, 2023)
A congressional scorecard produced by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America gave Moody an A+. ‘Senator Moody has voted consistently to protect the lives of the unborn and to stop forced taxpayer funding of abortion. This includes delivering the largest pro-life legislative victory in two decades by defunding Big Abortion businesses, like Planned Parenthood, of Medicaid dollars for one year through the reconciliation bill H.R.1. Senator Moody also stood strong against attempts to further subsidize plans that cover elective abortion,’ the group wrote.
Climate change: The League of Conservation Voters’s annual National Environmental Scorecard tracks the voting records of members of Congress on environmental, climate change, and democracy legislation and scores them on whether their votes protect people and the planet. Sen. Ashley Moody received a “0” score. The LCV reported that Sen. Moody lodged 35 “anti-environment” votes in 2025.
Neelam Taneja Perry, Republican
Occupation: Per her campaign website (perryforfl.com), Perry is a “physician, author, and advocate for truth and accountability in government."
Why are you running: "Dr. Neelam Taneja Perry is running for the United States Senate to return power to the people of Florida and end the corruption that has infected Washington and Tallahassee. She stands proudly with President Donald J. Trump’s America First movement — committed to securing the border, restoring law and order, protecting the Constitution, and putting American families first.
Dr. Perry is not a career politician. She is an independent-minded conservative who believes government should serve the citizens — not special interests, political insiders, or big donors. Her campaign is about restoring faith, fairness, and freedom in America’s government and defending the values that make Florida strong."
Ernest ‘Ernie’ Rivera, Republican
Campaign website: ernie4senate.com
Campaign stances:
Affordability: According to his campaign website, Rivera wrote: “Supports free enterprise and the protection of private property as the foundation of American prosperity. Opposes higher taxes on success and supports a fairer, simpler tax code that rewards hard work. Supports cutting federal spending to reduce the national debt – rooting out corruption, eliminating unneeded programs, and refocusing government on American priorities.”
Education: According to his campaign website, U.S. Senate candidate Ernie Rivera wrote the following about education: “Supports returning control of education to parents, local communities, and the states. Supports prohibiting foreign government funding of American schools, colleges, and universities.”
Immigration: According to his campaign website, U.S. Senate candidate Ernie Rivera wrote the following about immigration: “Supports legal immigration, secure borders, and the consistent enforcement of the rule of law. Expects assimilation to American values, language, and civic traditions. Opposes sanctuary cities that shield criminal aliens from federal law enforcement.”
Abortion restriction: According to his campaign website, U.S. Senate candidate Ernie Rivera wrote the following about “Right to Life”: “Affirms the legal protection of human life from conception to natural death, including the protection of human embryos. Opposes elective abortion except in cases necessary to save the physical life of the mother. Opposes taxpayer funding of abortion providers and supports the enforcement of existing federal law regarding abortion-inducing drugs.” He adds that “abortion should be illegal except in extreme circumstances.”
Climate change: According to his campaign website, U.S. Senate candidate Ernie Rivera wrote the following about energy and the environment: “Supports American energy independence through reliable, affordable energy sources. Supports the development of emerging nuclear technology, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).”
Angie Nixon, Democrat
Education: University of Florida, BA, Political Science
Occupation: Member, Florida House of Representatives.
Campaign website: angienixon.com
If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
If elected, the top three most pressing issues I will focus on as U.S. Senator are addressing the high cost of living, the health/home insurance industry and standing against the dismantling of essential services like Social Security, Medicare and SNAP.
Floridians are being crushed by an affordability crisis driven by corporate greed, political corruption and leaders who are afraid to stand up for the needs of the people. To solve these issues, we must crack down on price-gouging by large corporations, restore power to Floridians by removing power from insurance companies, and invest further in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and VA benefits. We need a system that takes care of our healthcare, not the needs of insurance companies. I am strongly in favor of Medicare For All.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
We must increase the housing supply in Florida to keep pace with the rapidly growing population. My priorities include incentivizing construction of affordable housing and re-evaluating the zoning laws to allow construction of more duplexes and mixed-use developments. Additionally, part of the problem is the home insurance premiums in the state, which have been driven up by climate disasters, litigation costs, and multiple insurers withdrawing from offering coverage within the state.
Renters also make up a large portion of Florida’s households. Increasing access to rental assistance programs and expanding transparency around fees and rent increases must be looked at as solutions to address this ongoing issue.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No.
I would absolutely vote no, and here’s why: It’ll gut local services. State economists say it’ll blow a $12 billion hole in local budgets. That’s going to force cities and counties to drastically cut essential services like fire rescue, public hospitals, and parks, which we all rely on. Otherwise, local governments will be forced to raise other taxes and fees to try to make up for the loss in funding. It’s also a massive permanent tax break for corporate landlords, vacation rentals, and large commercial buildings.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
Data centers are a product of large corporations, and they must pay their fair share and be held accountable for the huge negative impact their technology has. No amount of money should absolve them of being responsible for their actions.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
The biggest issue facing public education in Florida is our chronic underfunding of schools and teachers. We must fully fund public schools so Florida’s students can have safe classrooms, up to date materials and qualified educators. We should be incentivizing people to become teachers with competitive pay.
Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?
I do not agree with the way that this administration has gone about immigration enforcement. Many of the policies have been inhumane, illegal and downright un-American. Immigration is a deeply complex issue, however there are a few things that are abundantly clear: we must treat people with dignity and create a system that is orderly, efficient and considerate, not a system built on cruelty or chaos.
Do you believe abortion restrictions in Florida should be more strict, less strict or stay the same?
We should have fewer restrictions on abortion because when we restrict abortion and legislate what women can and cannot decide about their bodies it means that more women and children will die. Medical decisions should be made by patients and their doctors not legislators. Abortion restrictions force women into incredibly dangerous situations which disproportionately harms low-income and women of color.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida?
Climate change is the most impactful environmental issue in Florida. Climate change comes with a massive human and economic toll and it is something that we must address head on.
Alex Vindman, Democrat
Age: 51
Education: Binghamton University (BA), Harvard University (MA), Johns Hopkins University (MAIA, Doctorate of International Affairs)
Occupation: U.S. Senate Candidate, Former National Security Advisor and Veteran
Campaign website: alexvindman.com
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
Lowering costs for Floridians is my top priority. As I travel the state to meet voters, everybody tells me that life is unaffordable in our state. We need to lower the cost of housing, groceries, insurance, and health care. I also plan to fight the political corruption catering to special interests that is responsible for this affordability crisis. My campaign released a “Florida First” policy agenda to make Florida more affordable. One of the key planks of this platform is a plan to solve Florida’s homeowners insurance crisis by increasing market competition, holding insurers accountable, and addressing the underlying risks driving up premiums. I will also work to cut red tape that slows construction, support policies that allow first-time homebuyers to break into the market, and take on corporate investors who view housing purely as a speculative asset and are buying up homes and driving up prices across the state.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?
This is a half-measure that fails to address the homeowners insurance crisis that is making Florida unaffordable. Local government officials have said that this proposal will force municipalities across the state to cut funding for law enforcement and fire services, and I will never vote to defund the police. This proposal is just a fig leaf to hide the fact that career politicians in Tallahassee have failed to address rising costs for decades, and Floridians are frustrated and pissed off. That’s why I’m 100% focused on how we can cut costs for Floridians.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
Our state is suffering from an affordability crisis, and Florida’s utility regulators should respond by making sure that data centers are paying for their electricity and not passing these costs onto the backs of working Floridians suffering from our state’s affordability crisis. I believe we need a moratorium on data center construction until we have a policy ensuring that the extra costs associated with data centers are not passed onto Floridians.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
The federal government should ensure that there is enough funding at the pre-school level, K-12 level, and in higher education so that students, teachers, and families have the resources they need to succeed.
Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?
As an immigrant refugee myself, I am staunchly pro-immigration reform. I oppose efforts to expand inhumane immigration detention that treats all undocumented as criminals and dangers to society. A system that swiftly and fairly adjudicates immigration status aligns with the U.S. Constitution’s expectation of speedy trials. I believe that existing asylum laws are broadly functional and permit asylum seekers access to the U.S. I loathe the policies of family separation and seriously question the policy of family detention that equates to collective punishment, including the innocent. I will always support those coming to this country for a better life, and I will proudly vote for and cosponsor legislation that creates a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, and essential workers. We need clear and fair immigration systems, while also preserving border security that assures U.S. national security.
Do you believe abortion restrictions in Florida should be more strict, less strict or stay the same?
The government should not tell women what to do with their bodies, and I am running for Senate as a proudly Pro-Choice candidate. I will restore the protections of Roe v. Wade nationwide by passing the Women’s Health Protection Act, guarantee funding to care providers, and fight to ensure that servicewomen never have to worry about accessing reproductive healthcare no matter where they are stationed.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida?
The cost of homeowners insurance and utilities are skyrocketing, in part, due to environmental factors. In the Senate, I will fight to lower these costs and ensure everyday Floridians get much-needed relief from the affordability crisis my opponent, Ashley Moody, has created.
