- January 5, 2025
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Registered Republicans and Democrats in Flagler and Volusia counties will get their first chance to vote for their candidate of choice to represent Congressional District 6 during the primary election on Jan. 28.
Three Republicans and two Democrats are currently vying for seat, to be vacated on Jan. 20 by three-term U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, as he was named by President-elect Donald Trump as his national security advisor. The winner from both parties in the primary election will be on the ballot for the April 1 special general election.
As Florida is a closed primary state, only registered Republicans and Democrats may participate in the primary election.
Congressional District 6 includes all of Flagler and Putnam counties, as well as parts of Volusia, Lake, Marion and St. Johns counties.
The deadline to request your vote-by-mail ballot is Jan. 16. Early voting will take place from Jan. 18-25.
So, who's running?
Three Republican candidates have thrown their hat into the ring for the upcoming special election.
Florida Sen. Randy Fine, of Melbourne Beach, filed to run for the congressional seat on Dec. 3, 2024. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016-2024, and was elected to the Florida Senate in the recent 2024 general election, He worked in the gambling industry prior to his political career.
Fine is endorsed by Trump, who “needs fighters who will Make America Wealthy Again, Make American Safe Again, and someone who will stand up for Israel. That is why today I’m announcing my candidacy,” Fine wrote on X after announcing his candidacy in late November 2024.
Ehsan Joarder, of Brooksville, filed to run for the seat on Dec. 4, 2024. Joarder is an information technology specialist who was raised in Florida after his parents immigrated from Bangladesh, according to his campaign website.
"I am running for Congress because I am tired of century-old politicians making decisions that compromise our future," he wrote on his website. "I believe in putting America first, advocating for a balanced budget, supporting term limits, and preserving the American Dream for generations to come."
Aaron Baker, of Sorrento, filed to run on Dec. 6, 2024. He's worked on previous political campaigns, including his most recent to support Scott Presler's Early Vote Action in Pennsylvania, according to his campaign website. Baker wrote that he decided to run for office just before Hurricane Milton made landfall last October.
"Sitting on my couch, I found myself asking, 'How can an average citizen truly make a difference?'" Baker wrote. "That question ignited a sense of purpose, leading me to reconnect with acquaintances in Pennsylvania and dedicate time on the ground before November 5th."
Two Democrats are running for Congressional District 6.
George "Ges" Selmont, of Elkton, filed to run on Dec. 5, 2024. A businessman, Selmont ran for the Florida House in 2018 to represent Congressional District 4, losing to the Republican candidate. His campaign website includes a statement on the strain on the middle class.
"Hard work used to be enough to succeed, but that is no longer the reality," Selmont wrote on his campaign website. "I am running for Congress to restore fairness to our economic and judicial systems so that everyone can achieve the American dream."
Josh Weil, of Orlando, filed to run on Dec. 6, 2024. A single father and public school educator, Weil stated on his campaign website that he was moved to join the race by his children and students, "who deserve to grow into a society where we care about the facts, the planet, and each other."
"We can't just sit back and allow them to destroy the last remaining vestiges of what truly makes America great, we must act now by taking on corruption and injustice head-on," Weil wrote.
Three other candidates will be on the ballot in the special general election in April.
Libertarian Andrew Parrott, of Ocala, filed to run on Dec. 2, 2024. Parrott is an entrepreneur who previously worked for 19 years at E-ONE, an emergency vehicle manufacturer,
Randall Terry, who was the Constitution Party's presidential nominee in 2024, filed to run on Dec. 6, 2024 as an unaffiliated candidate. He is a longtime anti-abortion activist.
Chuck Sheridan, of Merritt Island, filed to run on Dec. 7, 2024 as a write-in. He ran to represent Florida State Senate District 19 last year, losing to Fine in the primary election.
