Whatever the day’s political outcomes, 2026 is already a record-breaking midterm election cycle, with nearly 57 million early votes cast nationally, compared to about 46 million in the 2022 midterms, according to the University of Florida Election Lab. That surge in early voting is a reflection of just how consequential the election is; voters show up when they believe their vote matters. In Florida, more than 5.4 million voters cast early ballots, nearly 40% of eligible voters (and not that far off Florida’s total turnout in the 2022 midterm of 48%). We get a breakdown of what races to watch and how to read the political tea leaves with longtime political columnist and reporter Nate Monroe. First Coast Connect has covered a range of local races and election-related topics this election cycle. You can find all of our election coverage here, and you can find detailed information about upcoming races in the Jacksonville Today voter guide. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. You can find your polling location at your county’s supervisor of elections website.
Guest: Nate Monroe, executive editor, The Florida Trib
House Call with Dr. Joe
From the doctor’s office to political office, dozens of physicians and healthcare workers have paused their practice to hit the campaign trail. The list of medically trained hopefuls includes seven high-profile candidates, among them Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and gun safety advocate running as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina. Many are running for Congress in an effort to counter the messaging of the Make America Healthy Again movement and its effect on everything from vaccine policy to funding for medical research. We talk to Dr. Joe Sirven about the politicization of medicine and the “doctoring” of politics. Dr. Joe also answers your healthcare questions on any topic. You can reach the doc on air at (904) 549-2937, email firstcoastconnect@WJCT.org or visit firstcoastconnect.org to submit a comment.
Guest: Dr. Joe Sirven, Mayo Clinic neurologist and Host of WJCT’s What’s Health Got To Do With It?
Topics and guests subject to change.