Florida was admitted to the Union on March 3, 1845, and elects its senators to Class 1 and Class 3. Florida's Senate seats were declared vacant in March 1861, due to its secession from the Union. They were again filled since July 1868. Its current senators are Bill Nelson (D) and Marco Rubio (R).
Class 1
Class 1 U.S. Senators belong to the electoral cycle that were elected for three U.S. Congress in the first elections of 1845, and then the seat was contested again every three Congresses (six years) thereafter. The seat in recent years has been contested in 1994, 2000, 2006, and 2012. The next election will be in 2018.
Class 3
Class 3 U.S. Senators belong to the electoral cycle that were elected for two United States Congresses in the first elections of 1845, and then the seat was contested again every three Congresses (six years) thereafter. The seat in recent years has been contested in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016. The next election will be in 2022.