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DeSantis Blames GOP Candidate for Tampa Senate Loss
Florida governor criticizes Republican Josie Tomkow's campaign after narrow defeat in special election
Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:21pm
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The political tensions between Florida's governor and legislative leaders cast a long shadow over the state's electoral landscape.Tallahassee TodayFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis has criticized the Republican candidate who lost a recent special election for a Tampa-area state Senate seat, saying the candidate 'does not do that' in terms of sharing the governor's values and goals. DeSantis defended his decision not to get involved in the race, which was won by Democrat Brian Nathan by just over 400 votes.
Why it matters
The Tampa Senate race was seen as a test of DeSantis' political influence, as he has frequently intervened in Republican primaries to back his preferred candidates. The governor's criticism of the GOP nominee suggests tensions within the party and raises questions about how DeSantis will approach future elections where his chosen candidates are not victorious.
The details
In the special election, Republican Josie Tomkow, a former state representative, was defeated by Democrat Brian Nathan, a union leader. DeSantis noted that he had won the district handily in his own gubernatorial race, and that former Sen. Jay Collins had also secured a solid win there in 2022. The governor said he was not willing to support a candidate 'who has taken really bad votes' and 'played games', suggesting Tomkow did not share his values and goals for the state.
- The special election was held on March 28, 2026.
- DeSantis made his comments criticizing the Republican candidate on March 31, 2026.
The players
Ron DeSantis
The Republican governor of Florida who has frequently intervened in GOP primaries to back his preferred candidates.
Josie Tomkow
The Republican candidate who lost the special election for the Tampa-area state Senate seat.
Brian Nathan
The Democratic candidate who won the special election for the Tampa-area state Senate seat.
Jay Collins
A former Republican state senator who won a solid victory in the same district in 2022.
Daniel Perez
The Republican speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, with whom DeSantis has feuded over various policy issues.
What they’re saying
“That's just kind of the way the cookie crumbles.”
— Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida
“The reality is when I get behind a candidate, I'm telling voters that this is somebody that shares my values and that shares our goals for the state of Florida. You have a candidate who does not do that, I am not going to be supporting them, and that's what happened in that race.”
— Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida
“I don't know that it was a difficult election to win if you had the right formula.”
— Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida
What’s next
Tomkow has said she will run again in the general election in November 2026, while Nathan is seeking reelection.
The takeaway
DeSantis' criticism of the Republican candidate in the Tampa Senate race highlights the ongoing tensions within the Florida GOP and the governor's willingness to publicly distance himself from candidates he deems as not fully aligned with his political agenda. This could have implications for future Republican primaries and general elections in the state.
