Florida State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022
Florida Senate District 17
A district of about 551,000 people, 42% Hispanic, 43% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+13.4 relative to the nation for president.
2022 election
Nov 8, 2022- Linda Stewart (D) · won · incumbent56.1%
- Steve Dixon (R)43.9%
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Oct 2, 2026, 5:14 AM ET
Where it sits among all 39 seats
Every Florida State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
13 races since 1982; the seat changed party 1 time. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2022 | |||
| 2022 | Linda Stewart (D) | Steve Dixon (R) | 12.1 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Debbie Mayfield (R) | Scot Fretwell (D) | 24.7 |
| 2016 | Debbie Mayfield (R) | Amy C. Tidd (D) | 24.2 |
| 2012 | John Legg (R) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | J. D. Alexander (R) | Scott K. Thompson (D) | 18.3 |
| 2004 | J. D. Alexander (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2002 | J. D. Alexander (R) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | John Laurent (R)Flip | — | Unopposed |
| 1996 | Rick Dantzler (D) | Dennis A. Ross (R) | 10.4 |
| 1992 | Rick Dantzler (D) | Tom Williamson (R) | 11.7 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | W. W. Gardner (D) | Lori Wilson (R) | 4.8 |
| 1984 | John Vogt (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1982 | John Vogt (D) | Jason Steele (R) | 19.4 |
Primaries: 1988 Republican primary
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 17
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 17's area in each.
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | D+29.7 | D+19.9 | D+7.3 |
| U.S. Senate | D+20.0 | No race | D+7.3 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 39 seats. Small marks are other seats in Florida. The black marker is District 17.
Higher than 89% of seats.
Lower than 79% of seats.
Higher than 87% of seats.
Lower than 71% of seats.
Higher than 95% of seats.
Denser than 66% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean. 1 of the 4 flipped this year.
District 3546% Hispanic · 43% college gradsD+13.0Not up in 2026District 10
23% Hispanic · 45% college gradsR+0.1Flipped DDistrict 14
35% Hispanic · 46% college gradsR+4.5Held DDistrict 30
25% Hispanic · 21% BlackD+11.8Held D
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET