Florida’s long awaited primary elections have arrived.

The state’s party primary elections are underway, the results of which will set the stage for November’s general election. In South Florida, several LGBTQ candidates are vying for public office. 

In Broward County, Oakland Park Mayor Mitch Rosenwald is running to replace Representative Patricia Williams, who is term-limited, in House District 98. Rosenwald is one of four Democrats in the race, and he has the endorsement of Equality Florida and the Sun Sentinel.

With no Republican in the race, the winner of the primary election will go on to Tallahassee as the district’s new representative.

Also in the race is newcomer Emily Rodrigues, a former legislative aide to Sen. Shevrin Jones. Rodrigues, 25, is a sexual assault survivor and carries the endorsement of the SAVE Action Pac.

SAVE has also endorsed out judicial candidates, Kathleen “Katie” McHugh for Broward County Judge, Group 6 and Emilio “Emi” Benitez for Broward County Judge, Group 32. 

Elsewhere, Chad Klitzman, a 30-year-old attorney and screenwriter, is seeking the open Senate seat in District 35. One of three Democrats in the race, Klitzman is endorsed by Equality Florida and the LGBTQ Victory Fund and has raised a hefty $250,374 during the campaign. 

In Miami-Dade County, John Barrow is campaigning for sheriff. A Major in the Miami-Dade Police Department, Barrow is one of four candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the county’s first election for sheriff in over 58 years. 

Early voting began Aug. 10 with election day set for Aug. 20. Winners advance to the general election on Nov. 5.