Florida general election: November 3, 2026
Who is running for Florida Senate, District 18 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Florida Senate, District 18 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Florida Senate District 18.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Karla KempDemocrat | Nick DiCeglieRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Business regulation | Much stronger rules, including breaking up the largest companiesSaid · medium | No public position |
| Healthcare | Government-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)Said · medium | No public position |
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestVoted · medium |
| Guns | No public position | Remove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightVoted · medium |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadySaid · medium |
| Energy and climate | An aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlinesSaid · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| School choice | No public position | Yes, universal school choice for every familyVoted · medium |
| Curriculum and books | No public position | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toVoted · medium |
| Policing and crime | No public position | Tougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailVoted · medium |
| Election rules | No public position | Strict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsVoted · medium |
| Gender care for minors | No public position | No, ban these treatments for minorsVoted · medium |
| Redistricting | No public position | State legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantageVoted · medium |
| Death penalty | No public position | Expand it and use it more often, including for crimes like child rapeVoted · medium |
| Student loans | Cancel large amounts of debt and make public college tuition-freeSaid · medium | No public position |
| Kids online | No public position | Ban social media accounts for minorsVoted · medium |
| School vaccines | No public position | Keep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsVoted · medium |
| Transgender athletes | No public position | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsVoted · medium |
| DEI programs | Keep them and let each school or agency decideSaid · low | Ban DEI offices and required training at public institutionsVoted · medium |
| China policy | No public position | Get tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesVoted · medium |
Karla Kemp
DemocratPrivate citizen
Karla Kemp describes herself as a licensed insurance agent and homeowner running to restore accountability and local control in Tallahassee2. She is the Democratic nominee for Florida Senate District 18 and faces incumbent Republican Nick DiCeglie on November 3, 20261.
Where they stand 7 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she would establish a universal, service based healthcare system with full coverage for all people and no investor profits, moving there by expanding Medicaid for all until universal coverage is complete. (2026) source
Student loansCancel large amounts of debt and make public college tuition-freemedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she would provide free undergraduate education and forgive all existing student loan debt. (2026) source
Business regulationMuch stronger rules, including breaking up the largest companiesmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she would break up monopolies, eliminate too big to fail and hold corporate and financial executives accountable for abuse and price gouging. (2026) source
Energy and climateAn aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlinesmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she would rejoin the Paris Accords permanently and accelerate the transition to renewable energy through wind, solar and microgrids. (2026) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says a universal healthcare system should include complete women's healthcare, including abortion and IVF. (2026) source
DEI programsKeep them and let each school or agency decidelow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says she would ensure equity and accountability in education by restoring DEI initiatives. (2026) source
Paid leaveNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says she would enact paid parental leave and affordable childcare. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Guns, Immigration, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, Religion in schools, China policy.
Nick DiCeglie
Republican · IncumbentFlorida state senator, District 18
Nick DiCeglie is a small business owner who was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, moved to Florida in 1996 and served in the Florida House from 2018 to 20221. He was elected to the Florida Senate in 2022 and faces Democrat Karla Kemp on November 3, 202612.
Where they stand 18 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 300 (2023), which banned most abortions after six weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest and trafficking up to 15 weeks and for the mother's life or serious health risk; it passed the Senate 26 to 13. (2023-04-03) source
- Voted yes on HB 5 (2022), which banned most abortions after 15 weeks with exceptions for the mother's life or health and fatal fetal conditions but not for rape or incest; it passed the House 78 to 39. (2022-02-17) source
- Voted yes on SB 404 (2020), which requires parental consent before a minor can have an abortion; it passed the House 75 to 43. (2020-02-20) source
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1 (2023), which made every Florida K-12 student eligible for a state scholarship that can pay for private school or home education; it passed the Senate 26 to 12. (2023-03-23) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 266 (2023), which barred public colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion programs; it passed the Senate 27 to 12. (2023-04-28) source
- Voted yes on HB 7 (2022), the Individual Freedom Act often called the Stop WOKE Act, which restricted how race related concepts can be taught in schools and in workplace training; it passed the House 74 to 41. (2022-02-24) source
Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 254 (2023), which banned puberty blockers, hormones and surgery for minors as treatment for gender dysphoria; it passed the Senate 26 to 13. (2023-05-04) source
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 1028 (2021), which limits school and college sports teams designated for girls or women to students who were female at birth; it passed the House 79 to 37. (2021-04-28) source
Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 90 (2021), which limited ballot drop boxes, required voters to renew mail ballot requests more often and added identification requirements for mail ballot requests; it passed the House 77 to 40. (2021-04-29) source
- Voted yes on SB 524 (2022), which created a state election crimes office, expanded voter roll maintenance and raised penalties for collecting others' ballots; it passed the House 76 to 41. (2022-03-09) source
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1467 (2022), which required school districts to post library materials, have certified media specialists review them and give parents a process to object to books; it passed the House 79 to 41. (2022-03-10) source
- Voted yes on HB 1557 (2022), the Parental Rights in Education law, which barred classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade; it passed the House 69 to 47. (2022-02-24) source
- Voted yes on HB 1069 (2023), which extended limits on instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity through eighth grade and expanded the process for parents to object to school library books; it passed the Senate 27 to 12. (2023-05-03) source
Death penaltyExpand it and use it more often, including for crimes like child rapemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1297 (2023), which allows the death penalty for sexual battery of a child under 12; it passed the Senate 34 to 5. (2023-04-18) source
- Voted yes on SB 450 (2023), which allows a death sentence when at least 8 of 12 jurors recommend it instead of requiring a unanimous jury; it passed the Senate 29 to 10. (2023-03-30) source
China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 264 (2023), which restricts people and companies from China and several other countries from buying land in Florida, with the strictest limits on China; it passed the Senate 31 to 8. (2023-05-04) source
RedistrictingState legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantagemedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 2-C (2022), which adopted the congressional map proposed by the governor after the 2020 census; it passed the House 68 to 38. (2022-04-21) source
- Voted yes on HB 1-D (2026), which redrew Florida's congressional districts in the middle of the decade at the governor's request; it passed the Senate 21 to 17. (2026-04-29) source
Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1 (2024), which would have barred social media accounts for children under 16; the governor vetoed it and a narrower bill, HB 3, later passed nearly unanimously; it passed the Senate 23 to 14. (2024-02-22) source
School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on SB 1756 (2026), which would have added a conscience based exemption from school vaccine requirements, banned mRNA vaccine mandates and let pharmacists sell ivermectin; it passed the Senate 23 to 15. (2026-03-09) source
GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 543 (2023), which allows carrying a concealed weapon without a permit; it passed the Senate 27 to 13. (2023-03-30) source
Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB 1 (2021), which created new crimes and tougher penalties tied to riots and let the state review local cuts to police budgets; it passed the House 76 to 39. (2021-03-26) source
- His campaign site says he has sponsored measures to increase penalties for organized retail theft and gift card fraud, backs the blue 100 percent and will ensure police and sheriff departments are fully funded. (2026) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says he fully backs efforts to secure the border, has voted for legislation that prohibits sanctuary city policies and supports the expansion of E-Verify and other enforcement measures. (2026) source
- Voted yes on SB 2-C (2025), which created a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, funded local cooperation with federal immigration agents and required local law enforcement to take part; it passed the Senate 27 to 10. (2025-02-13) source
- Voted yes on SB 4-C (2025), which created state crimes for entering Florida after entering the country illegally and required those charged to be held without bond; it passed the Senate 25 to 11. (2025-02-13) source
Religion in schoolsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on HB 931 (2024), which lets school districts choose to allow volunteer chaplains in schools; it passed the Senate 28 to 12. (2024-03-07) source
Energy and climateNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on HB 1645 (2024), a broad energy bill that removed most references to climate change from state law, banned offshore wind turbines, eased natural gas pipeline rules and ordered a study of advanced nuclear technology; it passed the Senate 28 to 12. (2024-03-06) source
E-Verify mandateNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on SB 1718 (2023), which required private employers with 25 or more workers to use E-Verify, created penalties for transporting people who entered the country illegally, and voided out of state driver licenses issued to people without legal status; it passed the Senate 27 to 10. (2023-04-28) source
- His campaign site says he supports the expansion of E-Verify and other enforcement measures. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Housing and growth, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Nuclear power.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.