Democrat Josh Weil has dropped out of the 2026 Florida U.S. Senate special election race, citing health issues. Weil was set to face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody for the seat in the special election next November.
In a statement on social media, Weil said he was hospitalized multiple times in 2021 and 2022 for Rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscle injury where your muscles break down, specifically for the dropout.
"In the last few weeks traveling across the state, I noticed an increase in symptoms associated with my hospitalizations," Weil said. "After discussions with my family, I have decided to focus on my health first and foremost."
Weil jumped into the Senate race last June. He also ran unsuccessfully for Florida's 6th Congressional District in April, losing to Rep. Randy Fine by 14 points.
With Weil out, Democrats may have to search for another Senate candidate to take on Sen. Moody, who will likely have an edge in the Republican primary after being endorsed by President Trump for the seat last week.
The only other Democratic opponents now in the race are Alex Gould and Tamika Lyles, but they are fairly unknown.
Either way, defeating Moody or any Republican candidate in the Senate election could be a monumental task for Democrats. The last Democratic Senator to serve Florida was Bill Nelson, who lost to now Republican Sen. Rick Scott in 2018.
"Florida deserves a US Senator who can fight for them 100% of the time. I do not wish to hold that seat if I cannot give them that 100% that they deserve. My hope is by bowing out this early in the cycle, another staunch progressive enter the race and be successful. I trust that both my run for the special election and for Senate has demonstrated to everyday working Americans that they can make a difference by running for office in their communities."
