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Will DeSantis leave Cherfilus-McCormick's House seat vacant?

The article examines whether he will call a special election and how his redistricting plans could affect the timing.

Will DeSantis leave Cherfilus-McCormick's House seat vacant?
Image · South Florida Sun Sentinel

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This article1 analysis · Oct 7, 2026
tl;dr

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation left Florida’s 20th District vacant, and Gov. Ron DeSantis has not said whether he will call a special election. Election officials and candidates disagree on how quickly one could be held and whether filling the seat for only a few months is worthwhile.

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Ron DeSantis Former U.S. Representative (R-FL)
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Ron DeSantis
Former U.S. Representative (R-FL)

Florida governor whose decision on calling a special election is uncertain

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Former U.S. Representative (D-FL)

Former U.S. representative whose resignation left the district’s House seat vacant

Cherfilus-McCormick's version of this story ↗
Alcee L. Hastings
Former U.S. Representative (D-FL)

Former U.S. representative for the district who died in 2021

Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

Speaker of the House

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President of the United States

Democratic House candidate calling for a timely election and criticizing DeSantis

Matt Gaetz
Former U.S. Representative (R-FL)

Former Florida U.S. representative

Cory Mills
R · FL-7

U.S. representative facing an Ethics Committee investigation

Michael Waltz
Former U.S. Representative (R-FL)

Former Florida U.S. representative

Democratic House candidate supporting prompt representation

Democratic House candidate calling for a prompt special election

Democratic House candidate who did not immediately respond to a request for comment

ALSO MENTIONED  Joe Scott, Broward County supervisor of elections; Nikki Fried, Florida Democratic Party chair; Sean Foreman, Barry University political scientist commenting on the election timetable and political factors; Wendy Sartory Link, Palm Beach County supervisor of elections

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