Scott Franklin

In the 2024 House race for FL-18, Scott Franklin (R) defeated Andrea Doria Kale (D) 65.3% to 34.7%. Scott Franklin received 225,170 votes compared to 119,637 for Andrea Doria Kale, a dominant 30.6-point margin reflecting a safely partisan district.

As the incumbent, Scott Franklin benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. The wide margin suggests this district is firmly in the Republican column for the foreseeable future.

In the 2022 House race for FL-18, Scott Franklin (R) won with 74.7% of the vote, defeating Keith R. Hayden Jr. (I) who received 25.3%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Scott Franklin's 49.4-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Brian Mast (R) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. As a Republican, Scott Franklin benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Democrat in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats. The wide margin suggests this district is firmly in the Republican column for the foreseeable future.