Josh Weil, who lost an April 1 congressional special election in the Daytona Beach area, is announcing he will run for the U.S. Senate seat in Florida on the 2026 ballot. Weil, a former teacher , Josh Weil announced his candidacy for the 2026 Florida Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (Josh Weil campaign/courtesy), Weil's bid sets up a possible challenge against the state's appointed senator, Ashley Moody. She was chosen by DeSantis to replace Marco Rubio, who left his term early to serve as Secretary of State in the Trump administration. Weil and Moody must first compete in Florida's Senate primary on Aug. 18, 2026., 2025-06-19 - Mark Harper Who is Josh Weil and how did he rise to who lost an April 1 congressional special election in the Daytona Beach area, is announcing he will run for the U.S. Senate seat in Florida on the 2026 ballot. Weil is launching his campaign as the highest-profile Democrat to have announced for the Senate seat, yet he , FILE - Josh Weil talks to a group of supporters during a Get Out the Vote event in Ocala, Fla., Monday, March 31, 2025. Democrat Josh Weil raised millions of dollars for an unsuccessful U.S. House campaign in Florida this year against Republican Randy Fine. Democrat Josh Weil, who raised millions of , Josh Weil, the Democrat who ran in the special election for Florida’s 6th congressional district this year, has announced he’s running for U.S. Senate in 2026. Weil will seek to unseat Ashley Moody, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace Marco Rubio after he was chosen to be President Donald Trump’s secretary of state..