Florida Democrat Josh Weil launched a U.S. Senate bid on Wednesday after losing a high-profile congressional race earlier this year.
Weil, 40, officially announced his campaign on social media.
Weil fundraised significantly more than his Republican opponent, Randy Fine, in a special election for Florida's 6th congressional district in April. The seat opened up after Mike Waltz was chosen to serve as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser.
The Democrat stunned in a deep red district, raising about $15 million from small donors, much more than his opponent.
The higher-than-expected fundraising numbers grabbed the attention of national Democrats and provided the party hope in a GOP stronghold.
Weil, a public school teacher and administrator, ultimately lost the high-profile race.
Fine secured 57 percent of the vote while Weil received 43 percent.
Weil said at the time that polling sometimes showed him ahead by 3 percent, but the fundraising and attention he attracted motivated Republican turnout.
Nonetheless, Weil appears to be emboldened by his performance in the congressional race earlier this year.
In announcing his Senate bid, Weil said he wants to continue to fight for Floridians by running for Congress to make the state more affordable, especially for the working class and the elderly.
The self-proclaimed progressive Democrat vowed to protect Social Security, health care, and education.
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.
The Senate election marks the first time Moody will face voters.
The former judge and state attorney general has already collected endorsements from several Florida lawmakers, including Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.).
Meanwhile, Weil wants to tap into the anti-Trump sentiment among voters, saying that his policies aren't working for struggling Floridians.
The winner of the 2026 Senate race will finish the final two years of Rubio’s term, then could run for reelection in 2028. It remains unclear which other candidates might enter the race.