Florida Senate District 18: 2026 Candidates & Ballot

Nick DiCeglie (Republican), Karla Kemp (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida Senate District 18; Nick DiCeglie is the sitting member, per the Florida Senate' official roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the August 18 primary or advanced unopposed; minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates qualify directly for the November ballot. The field is the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

Nick DiCeglie

Republican · Incumbent

Biography

Nick DiCeglie's occupation is listed as small business owner, according to the Florida Senate's official biography page, which also notes he served in the Florida House from 2018 to 2022 before his election to the Senate in 2022. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 11, 2026.

Karla Kemp

Democratic

Biography

Kemp is a licensed insurance agent, mortgage broker and sustainability consultant, and has also worked as a paramedic/firefighter, medical librarian and legislative environmental advisor, per the campaign site. She holds a bachelor's degree from Eckerd College in political science and business management and a master's degree from the University of South Florida in global sustainability, per the campaign site.

Top Priorities

Directing taxpayer dollars to those who contribute rather than large corporations
Preserving local governments' authority over development decisions
Funding education, healthcare, homelessness services, veterans' needs and affordable housing

Per the campaign site.

Per the candidate campaign site, roster verified 2026-09-08.

Campaign site

Questions about this race

Who is running for Florida Senate District 18 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Florida Senate District 18 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Nick DiCeglie and Karla Kemp. Candidate information follows official Pinellas County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Florida Senate District 18 election in Florida?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Florida are on the Florida election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Pinellas County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.