Sen. Joe Negron's successor will be decided by voters in special election

Voters will decide who will replace state Sen. Joe Negron in November.

Gov. Rick Scott has scheduled a special election for the District 25 seat Negron will vacate Nov. 6, two years before his term ends.

More: Poll: How do you rate Joe Negron's performance as Senate president?

Scott set the election to coincide with the existing Aug. 28 primary and Nov. 6 general election.

The winner will serve the remainder of Negron's term, then be eligible to run for re-election in 2020.

District 25 encompasses all of Martin and St. Lucie counties and a portion of northern Palm Beach County.

Negron announced his early retirement Wednesday.

Candidates

Negron on Thursday endorsed Gayle Harrell, a fellow Stuart Republican, who on Wednesday officially announced she would enter the race.

"She understands and appreciates the issues important to our community, particularly protecting our environment and championing K-12 and higher education," Negron said in a statement.

Martin County physician Rob Levy, a Democrat, also will enter the race, he said in a news release Thursday.

Harrell and Levy were planning to run for Negron's seat in 2020, and previously told TCPalm they'd be ready to run sooner if he retired early.

Rep. MaryLynn Magar, who is mulling a run for Negron's seat, will make a final decision by early next week, said Brett Doster, a political strategist who works for her.