ACLU Sues DeSantis to Force Special Election for Vacant Florida Senate District 14

Overview

• The ACLU of Florida filed the case on Sept. 30 in Leon County Circuit Court on behalf of Tampa voter Cort Lippe.
• The seat became vacant when Jay Collins was appointed lieutenant governor effective Aug. 12, leaving District 14 without a state senator.
• The complaint alleges the governor has a constitutional and statutory duty to call a special election and asks the court to order him to set one.
• The filing cites historical practice—an average of 7.6 days to call elections between 1999 and 2020—and contrasts that with both the four-day call for Blaise Ingoglia’s former seat and earlier delays that led to ACLU lawsuits.
• The suit warns constituents will go unrepresented during committee weeks beginning Oct. 6 and the 2026 session starting Jan. 13, as the GOP-leaning district awaits an election and Democrat Brian Nathan remains the lone 2026 filer.