Closest U.S. Senate elections in Florida
The closest U.S. Senate election in Florida history was in 2018, a margin of 0.12 points. Rick Scott beat Bill Nelson, 4,099,505 to 4,089,472. Next closest are 1988 (0.85 points) and 2004 (1.1 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Florida has held, special elections included, see the Florida U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Florida history?
The Florida Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 2018, 0.12 points. Rick Scott beat Bill Nelson, 4,099,505 to 4,089,472. The next closest were 1988 (0.85 points) and 2004 (1.1 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Florida’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Florida Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Florida election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018 | Rick Scott R def. Bill Nelson D | 4,099,505 – 4,089,472 | 0.12 points |
| 2 | 1988 | Connie Mack R def. Buddy MacKay D | 2,051,071 – 2,016,553 | 0.85 points |
| 3 | 2004 | Mel Martinez R def. Betty Castor D | 3,672,864 – 3,590,201 | 1.1 points |
| 4 | 1974 | Richard Stone D def. Jack Eckerd R | 781,031 – 736,674 | 2.5 points |
| 5 | 1980 | Paula Hawkins R def. Bill Gunter D | 1,822,460 – 1,705,409 | 3.3 points |
| 6 | 2000 | Bill Nelson D def. Bill McCollum R | 2,989,487 – 2,705,348 | 4.9 points |
| 7 | 2016 | Marco Rubio R def. Patrick Murphy D | 4,835,191 – 4,122,088 | 7.7 points |
| 8 | 1970 | Lawton Chiles D def. William C. Cramer R | 902,438 – 772,817 | 7.7 points |
| 9 | 1986 | Bob Graham D def. Paula Hawkins R | 1,877,543 – 1,552,376 | 9.5 points |
| 10 | 1968 | Edward Gurney R def. Leroy Collins D | 1,131,499 – 892,637 | 11.8 points |
| 11 | 2024 | Rick Scott R def. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell D | 5,977,706 – 4,603,077 | 12.8 points |
| 12 | 2012 | Bill Nelson D def. Connie Mack R | 4,523,451 – 3,458,267 | 13.0 points |
| 13 | 2022 | Marco Rubio R def. Val Demings D | 4,474,847 – 3,201,522 | 16.4 points |
| 14 | 2010 | Marco Rubio R def. Charlie Crist D | 2,645,743 – 1,607,549 | 19.2 points |
| 15 | 2006 | Bill Nelson D def. Katherine Harris R | 2,890,548 – 1,826,127 | 22.2 points |
| 16 | 1982 | Lawton Chiles D def. van B. Poole R | 1,637,667 – 1,015,330 | 23.5 points |
| 17 | 1998 | Bob Graham D def. Charlie Crist R | 2,436,407 – 1,463,755 | 24.9 points |
| 18 | 1976 | Lawton Chiles D def. John Grady R | 1,799,518 – 1,057,886 | 25.9 points |
| 19 | 1964 | Spessard L. Holland D def. Claude R. Kirk R | 997,585 – 562,212 | 27.9 points |
| 20 | 1992 | Bob Graham D def. Bill Grant R | 3,245,565 – 1,716,505 | 30.8 points |
| 21 | 1928 | Park Trammell D def. Barclay H. Warburton R | 153,816 – 70,633 | 37.1 points |
| 22 | 1962 | George A. Smathers D def. Emerson Rupert R | 657,633 – 281,381 | 40.1 points |
| 23 | 1994 | Connie Mack R def. Hugh E. Rodham D | 2,895,200 – 1,210,577 | 41.0 points |
| 24 | 1958 | Spessard L. Holland D def. Leland Hyzer R | 386,113 – 155,956 | 42.5 points |
| 25 | 1944 | Claude Pepper D def. Miles H. Draper R | 335,685 – 135,258 | 42.6 points |