Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday declared an emergency in seven counties across the state due to flooding that could impact polling sites during the Tuesday midterms.

The order signed by the Republican governor cited “heavy rainfall across portions of Florida with several occurrences of consequential flooding” that affected major interstates, state and local roadways, schools, and other infrastructure.

The emergency was declared in Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie counties.

“I order the Adjutant General to activate the Florida National Guard, as needed, to deal with this emergency,” it said. “I further order the Director of the Florida State Guard to activate the Florida State Guard, as needed, to respond to this emergency.”

The directive noted Tuesday’s elections, saying that any elections supervisor seeking to make changes to polling locations “must notify the Florida Department of State of any partial or substitute measures the Supervisor wishes to undertake, such undertaking subject to the Florida Secretary of State’s approval.”

State and local officials were given additional authority and resources to respond to the flooding. The order also authorized the Florida Department of Transportation to close roads or manage traffic and “waive tolls and other fees and charges for the use of the Turnpike and other public highways.”

Local governments could waive some procedures involving contracts, public works, spending, and other measures to hasten the response to the flooding.

Florida voters are heading to the polls on Nov. 3 to cast ballots in several races, including a gubernatorial contest pitting U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) against former congressman David Jolly, who is running as a Democrat.

Jolly faces steep hurdles in his effort to recapture the governor’s seat for Democrats. Republicans have a roughly 1.5 million voter registration advantage, and Donalds has dominated Jolly in fundraising.

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 15, 2025. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

A Democrat hasn’t won the Florida governor’s race since Lawton Chiles in 1994. Jolly is a former Republican congressman from Tampa who switched parties and campaigned as a centrist.

Donalds is a congressman from southwest Florida who won the Republican nomination with the backing of DeSantis and President Donald Trump. He would be Florida’s first black governor if elected.

DeSantis, who was elected governor in 2018, could not run for the GOP nomination because of term limits. He had been re-elected in November 2022, defeating Democrat Charlie Crist, a former governor, with 59 percent of the vote.

The state also has a U.S. Senate seat being contested. Incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), a former Florida attorney general, is running against Florida state House Rep. Angie Nixon, the Democratic nominee.

Meanwhile, 28 U.S. House seats are also being contested statewide.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump already cast their ballots last month in Florida. The president, who has a home in Palm Beach, said that he “very much so” voted for Republicans.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.