This district is about 90% urban, including rural Hillsborough County but also including the cities of Clearwater and New Port Richey. The population is about 34% white. The Cook rating is D+5, and all major elections since 2013 have had a slight Democratic victory. The district underwent major redistricting in 2013, with all recent congressional races prior to that going solidly to Republicans.

The Democratic candidate is incumbent Darren Soto, who has represented this district since 2016 and has been in Congress since 2012. He is the first Puerto Rican to represent Florida in Congress. He is a strong advocate for the DREAM Act and has high ratings for environmental issues and gun control. His opponent is Republican Wayne Liebnitzky, a Navy veteran and strong supporter of American exceptionalism, free market capitalism, and US intervention in foreign affairs.