The lines of Florida’s 8th District were redrawn in 2016, meaning that this district is brand new. Once located in inland Central Florida, it now sits along the Southeastern coast, and is 98% urban. Tourism is a major industry along the pristine beaches of the Eastern seacoast. District 8 is also home to Kennedy Space Center, which launched NASA’s Apollo missions, and the surrounding space industry.

Incumbent Bill Posey, who has held the office since 2008, garnered national attention for his book on government accountability and his efforts to reorganize the Florida election system after the 2000 election. He stirred controversy with comments that seemingly denied climate change, and voted against protections for LGBT people against hate crimes after the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting. Challenger Sanjay Patel runs on a campaign for universal health care and immigrant rights.

Every congressional election this century except for 2008 has gone to the Republican candidate, and Cook assigns this district a partisan rating of R+11.