Former Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book is heavily favored to win Senate District 30 on Election Day, Nov. 3, according to Florida Politics. She faces Republican Hector Rivera, a North Miami real estate broker who has campaigned on affordability and neighborhood concerns.
The seat is open because Democratic Sen. Tina Scott Polsky announced in May that she would not seek re-election. The district spans northern Broward and southern Palm Beach counties, including part of Boca Raton and all or portions of Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point, Margate, North Lauderdale, Parkland and Pompano Beach.
Democrats hold a registration edge of 39% to Republicans’ 28.5%. Book, 42, served in the Senate from 2016 through 2024 and was barred from running again by term limits. She has the backing of Polsky, several county officials and groups including the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Florida AFL-CIO and Florida Realtors PAC.
The money gap is wide. Through early October, Book had about $2.34 million available by mid-October, including committee money from earlier cycles. Rivera raised about $4,500 and had roughly $500 left, with more than half of that coming from himself or people in his household.
Rivera, 59, won the Republican primary with 61% of the vote. He has proposed policyholder-owned insurance exchanges, low-interest state financing for condo repairs after the Surfside collapse, and state-funded weapon detection at school entrances.
Book’s platform centers on reproductive rights, child safety, school funding, teacher pay and lower housing, insurance and prescription drug costs. Her legislative record includes Medicaid coverage for mothers and infants and the removal of taxes on diapers and adult incontinence products.
